Jessica Pegula will have little time to process her heartbreaking loss to Alexandra Eala in the rain-hit Mubadala DC Open final, as she will need to shift her focus to the Canadian Open immediately.
After a tiring week in Washington, D.C., the American opened up about her physical condition and the challenge of making a quick turnaround to the WTA 1000 event in Toronto.
Jessica Pegula Sheds Light on Her Condition Ahead of Canadian Open Turnaround
In a blockbuster title clash at the DC Open on Sunday, which had a delayed start due to inclement weather, Pegula seized the early momentum by clinching the opening set against Eala. However, with the American leading 6-4, 1-2, play was suspended due to rain, and the final was postponed until Monday, August 3.
When the match resumed, Eala took the upper hand with a commanding display, claiming a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory to clinch her maiden tour-level title.
During her post-match press conference, Pegula reflected on the contrast between her performances across the two days, acknowledging that Eala raised her level after the suspension while her own form dipped.
“I mean, today was a little bit hotter. It definitely felt like two different matches. On my side, I just felt like I couldn’t find my rhythm. I think I was playing much better yesterday, for whatever reason, than I was today. And I think she was playing better today than she was yesterday. So I felt like it just kind of flip-flopped a little bit,” Pegula said.
The world No. 3 also described her DC Open campaign as “exhausting.” However, she will have some time to recover. Unlike the other players in the top half of the Canadian Open draw, who are scheduled to compete on Tuesday, August 4, Pegula will kick off her campaign in the second round on Wednesday.
“It’s been pretty exhausting, at least for me. It’s been a long week for me, coming in here not having a lot of practice and hours under my belt and then just playing every single day. It’s been a long week. I think I’m a little fried now that it’s all over. I can try to relax a little bit until, obviously, I have to play Wednesday in Toronto,” she added.
The 32-year-old acknowledged that the tough turnaround from Washington to Toronto would leave her with little time to reset. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, suggesting that getting straight back into competition can sometimes work to a player’s advantage.
“I’m pretty used to that. It is a different place, different surroundings, different hotel, different court. So, you do feel a little bit of a reset, but it is going to be a tough turnaround for me going straight into playing Wednesday,” she said. “I’ll just have to try to do my best to reset today.”
“Maybe try and relax a little bit and take it easy tomorrow. Just get a feel for the conditions and just do my best so I can go out there and compete on Wednesday. Sometimes it can be nice. You don’t have too much time to think about things. You can just go and straight into match form,” she continued.
Entering the Canadian Open as the No. 3 seed, Jessica Pegula is set to lock horns with Magdalena Fręch in the second round of the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. Meanwhile, No. 25 seed Alexandra Eala will kick off her campaign against Alycia Parks, following a first-round bye.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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