OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 13, 2023

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/L. Samsonova

6-1, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your second WTA 1000 title. How are you feeling right now?

JESSICA PEGULA: I feel great. I know obviously physically she wasn't feeling her best, but at the same time I played a really clean match. I don't really think I made any unforced errors or anything. I played kind of a perfect match.

I feel like I did enough to where, yeah, I could just play freely, and I kept trying to get the break and just hold for as long as I could until I won the match.

So, yeah, it was a good day.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. On the court you said you wished you had won on better terms. Can you maybe just elaborate on that a little bit?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, she's had a crazy schedule. She played two times I think Friday. Played a long match yesterday. Or sorry, the day before. Then got delayed today and then, whatever, had to play again.

She's played a lot of matches in a really short amount of time. It's not ideal. There's nothing we could really do. It was just the weather.

I know scheduling wasn't in her favor. So it's just kind of -- it sucks when you feel like you're not on a really fair playing ground, especially someone like her who is such a great player.

I mean, regardless she had a great week and made the most of it, so I'm sure she's happy either way. But, yeah, just more or less kind of sucks when you have to play someone like that.

Q. "Cotton Eye Joe" infamously played during the speakers during your match yesterday and once again when you won today. What was your feeling hearing it the second time?

JESSICA PEGULA: Well, I just learned it was his idea when I won to play it again, which is hilarious. I mean, yeah, yesterday I just couldn't believe it was actually happening. I was, like, where are we right now? Of all songs.

I don't even think I heard it the whole week, and it just came on in the middle of the match at a really important point. So it was interesting.

I've come to learn that I lost a lot of points consecutively after "Cotton Eye Joe" came on, so I'm glad I got over the "Cotton Eye Joe" jinx or whatever you want to call it and was able to overcome that.

So today, yeah, it was just funny after I won because it was almost my downfall yesterday, but not anymore.

Q. So I saw in an article that you said you think by playing you inspire your mother. Have you had a chance to share a moment with her yet after winning?

JESSICA PEGULA: Well, I won Guadalajara last year, and that was obviously the same year that the incident happened. This year I haven't gotten to talk to her yet, but she's much more aware of what's going on and in a much better place. So I think I'll be able to share this more with her a little bit.

I'm sure she probably watched and was very happy, and the same for the rest of my family. So, yeah, I'll definitely be able to share that moment with her as soon as I'm out of here.

Q. You have been super regular this season. I mean, proof of that is you're third ranked in the world, and this is your first win of the season. I mean, what's your secret to be so consistent, and how does it feel to finally lift the trophy?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, it feels great. I had, again, really consistent results all year this year: Finals at Doha, semis last week of D.C., a couple more quarterfinals.

So it feels great. Yeah, I worked through. Beating Coco and beating Iga were two really tough wins back-to-back, and being able to do that and then just come out today and play a really clean match was kind of great.

I felt like I didn't have a ton of pressure at any point or I wasn't worried too much today. But, yeah, it's always nice. We're out on tour to win tournaments and to win titles every single week, but tennis can be really tough where you sometimes lose a lot. Even when you're winning a lot of matches, you're still not winning tournaments, so it can get tough.

Winning a week like this week makes it all worth it and makes you want to keep going for more. I'll be right back at it tomorrow in Cincinnati.

Q. You've had so much success in Canada. You've played good, including Quebec City previously. Is there anything that makes you play that good in Canada?

JESSICA PEGULA: I don't know. The courts, the court speed. I don't know. The conditions. I'm not really sure what it is.

I think it's a little bit of mindset. I've always kind of played well here, so I always come in with a good attitude and good spirits that I can always play good tennis here. I think that probably helps.

I like feeling like I'm up in the Northeast kind of area. Maybe because that's where I'm comfortable. I don't know. I feel like I say this every -- like, Miami Open I feel like I'm home. Here I feel like I'm home. Everywhere seems like home.

I guess it's sometimes you feel comfortable where you like to play, and that can definitely play into your results. So I think it's just always played into my results here. Yeah, I don't know what it is, but I'll take it.