Jessica Pegula becomes first woman in 24 years to achieve feat that eluded Serena Williams

Ewan West 13 Aug 2024 12:20 PM

Jessica Pegula and Martina Hingis at the Canadian Open

Jessica Pegula and Martina Hingis are the last two woman to defend the Canadian Open title

Jessica Pegula has become the seventh woman to defend the Canadian Open title in the Open Era with her victory in Toronto.

The American downed Amanda Anisimova in three sets in the final of the 2024 edition of the WTA 1000 event, making her the first player to win the Canadian Open in consecutive years since Martina Hingis in 1999 and 2000.

From 1981, the women’s and men’s events at the Canadian Open have alternated between Toronto and Montreal each year. Prior to that, both events were staged in Toronto.

Here, we look at the seven women who have defended the Canadian Open title since the Open Era started in 1968.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley: 1972-1973

Evonne Goolagong Cawley was a runner-up at the Canadian Open in 1971, but she won the event — which was then played on clay — in both of the following two years.

The Australian defeated Virginia Wade in the 1972 championship match and Helga Niessen Masthoff in the 1973 final.

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Regina Marsikova: 1977-1978

Regina Marsikova won the Canadian Open in back-to-back years on clay courts in Toronto in 1977 and 1978.

In the two title matches, the Czech saw off Marise Kruger in 1977 and Virginia Ruzici in 1978.

Martina Navratilova: 1982-1983

Martina Navratilova was a three-time Canadian Open winner and claimed two of her titles in successive years in 1982 and 1983.

The Czech-American overcame Andrea Jaeger in the 1982 final to become the first woman to win the event in Montreal.

The following year, Navratilova became the first woman to win the title in the two different cities when she beat Chris Evert to defend her crown in Toronto.

Chris Evert: 1984-1985

After securing Canadian Open titles in 1974 and 1980, Chris Evert added her third and fourth triumphs in 1984 and 1985.

In the finals, the American downed Alycia Moulton in 1984 in Montreal and Claudia Kohde-Kilsch in 1985 in Toronto.

Monica Seles: 1995-1998

With four Canadian Open titles, Monica Seles shares the record for the most women’s singles triumphs at the event with Evert.

The Yugoslavian-American won all of her titles in consecutive years from 1995 to 1998, making her the only woman to defend the title multiple times.

In her championship match victories, Seles defeated Amanda Coetzer in 1995, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1996, Anke Huber in 1997, and Sanchez Vicario again in 1998.

Martina Hingis: 1999-2000

Martina Hingis claimed both of her Canadian Open crowns in back-to-back editions in 1999 and 2000, while she was also a runner-up in 2006.

For her two final triumphs, Hingis denied Seles a fifth straight title with victory in Toronto in 1999, before beating Serena Williams to defend her title in Montreal the next year.

Jessica Pegula: 2023-2024

Pegula won her maiden Canadian Open title in 2023 by crushing Liudmila Samsonova for the loss of just a single game in the final in Montreal.

The 30-year-old then saw off Anisimova in three sets in the 2024 Toronto final to become the fifth woman to win the tournament in consecutive years in both Canadian cities.