Rule of thumb to beat Anisimova in Toronto Final

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennisnow | Monday, August 12, 2024
Photo Credit: Vaughn Ridley / Getty

Jessica pegula he is able to bring his top tennis to Canada.

Defending Champion Pegula aims to hold the middle ground in Toronto Foam against a renaissance Amanda Anisimova.

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It is Canada’s first open road since 2001 Serena Williams won Jennifer Capriati.

Powered by the Canadian open career record, Pegula didn’t surrender a set en route to his second bank open.

Tonight, Pegula is making history in a bid to become the first woman since Caler Hall Martina Hinges (1999-2000) to effectively defend an open Canada.

“Getting the chance to defend my title is something that doesn’t happen often, so I’m happy that I’m putting myself in a good position to do so,” he told the Toronto press. “I think it’s nice to be, to have my name with other really big names in history who played well here or managed to defend the title.”

World No. No. 6 Pegule has beaten Anisimova in two previous meetings, including a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) basic win at Charleston Clay last April.

It was a fun finale of the evening against the first hard court in four years. Pegula talks about two keys to Anisimova’s success:

1.Control the center of the court as much as possible.

2. Find the right balance between making big hits Anisimova plays more ball and plays basic tennis.

“I think everyone knows that he is a threat every time he goes to court,” said Pegula Anisimova. “He’s probably one of the biggest strikers I’ve ever played with, so if it’s going to be really tough, it’s really tough.

“Definitely we will be a battle, and I will have to do my best to make him put more balls, then try to be aggressive when I can hit a lot. They won and they take the race of your hand sometimes, so I will have to be smart.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgffzcytwqwg

Arriving in Toronto at No. 133, Anisimova defeated four top 20 players in the tournament for the first time in her career.

In a screaming week that included straight sets wins over Caroline Dothane, Anna Kasatkina, Anna Kalinskaya and Chriabar of the Australian Open in Emma Navarro in the three-place semifil, Anisimova released the rankings from No. 132 Last Week in No. 49 in live rankings.

2019 Roland Garros Semifinalist Anisisimova has worked with Pegula in the past and believes both will be ready to fight for all points.

“Honestly, I don’t really remember [the Charleston loss to Pegula] that’s good. I know it was three sets, it was a big long match, “said Anisimova.” I was happy with the way I played that day, and I fought hard. I know I left feeling very proud of myself.

“Even if I lost that game, I was playing really well, and I think it was all a good experience, so, yeah, there are some things I can take from that game [the final].”