Pegula battles past Kessler to claim Austin crown and secure first title of 2025

World number four Jessica Pegula secured her inaugural WTA title of 2025 on Sunday, triumphing over McCartney Kessler with a score of 7-5, 6-2 in an all-American showdown held in Austin, Texas.

As the top seed, Pegula celebrated her seventh WTA title, marking her first victory since her success at the 1000 event in Toronto last year.

This title adds to Pegula's achievements from the 2024 season, during which she also reached the final of the US Open.

In Kessler, Pegula faced a rapidly emerging talent, who had previously won her first two WTA finals in Cleveland last August and Hobart in January.

The 25-year-old entered the Austin tournament with momentum, having recently defeated her first top-10 opponent, Coco Gauff, in the second round at Dubai.

However, Pegula proved too formidable, breaking a three-match losing streak in finals and securing a confidence-boosting title ahead of the prestigious hard court events in Indian Wells and Miami.

Pegula, the sole top-10 player in the tournament draw, dropped only one set throughout the week.

Kessler appeared poised to alter the course of the match when she rallied from a 0-2 deficit to take a 4-2 lead in the first set.

Nevertheless, a series of unforced errors from Kessler allowed Pegula to regain the lead, and after Kessler failed to capitalize on a break opportunity in the 11th game, she was broken in the subsequent game, allowing Pegula to clinch the first set.

Kessler managed to break Pegula at the start of the second set, but Pegula quickly regained control by winning the next four games.

SportsLigue