Cincinnati Masters
Outsider flips the script to dethrone Pegula in Canada
Anastasija Sevastova denied the hat-trick dream of Jessica Pegula on Friday, knocking the holder out in the third round of the WTA Montreal event.
The 35-year-old Latvian outsider ranked 386 posted a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 fightback to send the third-seed home from the event she has won twice.
The winner was puzzled by her unexpected success. “Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better. Third set, I played really good.
“Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.”
Pegula admitted she was shut down on the day. “It was a weird match for me. I felt like I had total control, and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like, three games.
“That kind of totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set in 2-0 to being down very quickly. I just didn’t feel like I maybe made her earn that at that point. I think I kind of gave that away.
“I think I was more annoyed with my performance in the middle of that second set.”
Sevastova had been plagued by knee problems and was playing only her24th WTA match in the past four years.
She last defeated a top five opponent seven years ago at the 2018 US Open, ( Sloane Stephens) and last won three matches in a row four years ago.
She will now face four-time Grand Slam champion and another comeback artist in Naomi Osaka, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Jelena Ostapenko.
Pegula said she has work to do before the upcoming Cincinnati event – where she played the 2024 final – and the Open
“I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that,” she said.
“I feel like I’ve gone through phases in my career, a few tournaments, where I feel like that sometimes, and you have to figure out how to get out of it and not feel sorry for yourself or make excuses. I’ve got figure it out.”
Carlos Alcaraz could miss the entire grass season if a worst-case scenario on his wrist injury comes into play.
The Spaniard has already withdrawn from title defences on clay at Rome and Roland Garros after injuring the wrist this month in Barcelona.
But latest reports from Spain indicate that the world No. 2 could possibly not be back until the start of the US Open run-up next August, possibly at the Cincinnati Masters.
Rome’s La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the bad news on the fitness state of Alcaraz, winner of the last two French Open editions. The paper reported there was no chance for the player to compete either at Queen’s club, London, or Wimbledon, which begins in late June.
Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz reached Wimbledon final 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner became the youngest man to complete the full set of hard-court victories by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8) 7-6 (7) in the searing heat of Indian Wells.
The 24 year old Italian, didn’t face a break point during the final nor did he drop a set on his way to claiming his first title of the year and his 25th overall.
Sinner has won both hard court Grand Slams, with victories at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and at the US Open in 2024.
In addition he has lifted all six Masters 1000 series hard court titles – adding the Indian Wells title to victories in Miami, Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris plus the season-ending ATP Finals.
Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have achieved the same feat.
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Indian Wells Trophy – by ATPTour.com
Felix Auger-Aliassime bounced back after a slow start, with the Canadian raiding his game along with his expectations on Wednesday at the ATP Dubai event.
The top seed survived the loss of his opening serve to prevail 6-4, 6-4 over France’s Giovanni Mpetschi Perricard.
Victory marked the 10th quarter-final or higher at 11 tournament for FAA dating to Cincinnati last August.
The seed’s game is on the mend after a hiccup in the form of an Australian Open first-round loss, with FAA winning the Montpellier title and reaching this month’s Rotterdam final against Alex de Minaur.
Auger-Aliassime said that he tries to set an example to his team by way of keeping his tennis standards high.
“I’m responsible, I’m the one stepping onto the court – I’m the (support) team leader.
“I need to uphold the standards I want for my career.”
The winner who broke three times, said the ball reacted differently as he played for the first time in the afternoon.
“I couldn’t find my serve in the first few games, I needed to get some rhythm. he also made it difficult for me. I’m glad I was able to find a way back into the set.
The Canadian No. 1 improved his record against French opponents to 15-1 since the start of 2025.
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