Jessica Pegula reaches Cincinnati final before U.S. Open

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — With the U.S. Open approaching, Jessica Pegula is finding her game at the right time.

Reaching Monday’s final of the Cincinnati Open after claiming her sixth career WTA singles victory with a title defense in Toronto, the Buffalo-born Pegula nearly became the first woman in 51 years to complete the Canada-Cincinnati double.

“I think I’m just finding my game a little bit and then competing and being smart out there,” Pegula told the Tennis Channel after she defeated Washington Open champion Paula Badosa, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in Sunday’s semifinal for her ninth win in a row.

Pegula, the No. 6 seed, will lost 6-4, 7-5 against No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, on Monday. Sabalenka beat No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals to rise to a No. 2 world ranking.

The U.S. Open gets underway August 26. Pegula reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year after her quarterfinal breakthrough in 2022. She has not advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam event this season.

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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here .