NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 11, 2024

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/D. Shnaider

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Who would like to ask our first question?

Q. You're playing some really good tennis. I wanted to know, what are you proud of about your game today?

JESSICA PEGULA: I thought I played better today maybe than the last few matches. The conditions were still really tough, and then playing a lefty is very tricky, and also someone that I never played or practiced with, so I had no idea what to expect.

I thought I played really smart. I felt I kind of adjusted my game plan a couple games in because I felt like what I thought going in wasn't going to work, so I had to adapt a little bit, but I'm proud that I was able to figure that out.

Q. You're facing Amanda, you had a close match in Charleston, what stands out about her game, especially since she's come back?

JESSICA PEGULA: Well, I think Amanda has always been a really super talented player, and is a top player when she's healthy and she's playing. Obviously she took of a little bit of a break there, which is great, and it's good to see her back playing top tennis. I think everyone knows she's a threat every time she steps on court. She's probably one of the biggest, cleanest ball strikers I've ever played against, so when she's on it can be really, really tough. Tomorrow definitely is going to be a battle, and I'm going to have to do my best to just make her play a lot of extra balls, and try to be aggressive when I can, because when she's on she can hit a lot of winners and take the racquet out of your hand sometimes, so I'm going to have to be smart tomorrow.

Q. What does it mean to you to have a chance to defend your title in Canada?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, a lot. It's amazing being able to come back, and I've always had good results here, but to know I have good results here and then also come back and make another final is really cool.

Getting a chance to defend my title is something that doesn't always happen, so I'm excited that I get to put myself in a good spot tomorrow to do so. I think it's cool to be, to have my name with a lot of other really big names in history that have either played well here or been able to defend the title as well, so it's super special.

Q. You've been one of the most consistent players on the WTA tour, how do you maintain that consistency week-in and week-out?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I think I always approach every match as it's going to be a really tough match. I like to keep up and watch a lot and look at scores and matchups and different things. I don't think I take any match lightly. I think the depth right now is really kind of, it's really good, so I know that every day, no matter how well you're playing or what the ranking is, that someone can beat you on any given day. I think I always kind of have maybe a little bit of an underdog mentality, no matter who I'm playing, if it's a high-ranked or low-ranked player, I think maybe that helps me just not get caught by surprise on some matches.

Yeah, I think that's maybe what helps me a little bit and why I'm able to win a lot of matches.

Q. It's obviously an All-American final. Do you feel like you'll have the crowd on your side being from Buffalo, which is kind of close to here?

JESSICA PEGULA: Probably. I'm sure there will be some "Go Bills" people yelling, there always is, especially here. So, yeah, I think maybe I'll be a little bit of the home crowd favorite, which will be fun considering I'm not exactly from here, but I'm very close, so it's cool to get that support in a different country.