World No. 4 Jessica Pegula showcased her championship form at the 2025 ATX Open, securing the title with a commanding 7-5, 6-2 victory over fellow American McCartney Kessler. This triumph reinforces Pegula’s status among the elite in women’s tennis.
This victory marks her seventh career title and her first since winning the Canadian Open in August 2024.
Jessica Pegula Battles Past McCartney Kessler in a Gritty First Set
The opening set of the match between world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and qualifier McCartney Kessler was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with both players showcasing resilience and grit. Pegula, the favorite, started strong by holding her serve to take an early lead at 1-0. Kessler, however, struggled with nerves and was broken immediately, giving Pegula a 2-0 advantage.
The match seemed to be slipping away from Kessler, but she fought back admirably. She broke Pegula’s serve to narrow the gap to 2-1 and then held her serve to draw level at 2-2. What followed was a flurry of service breaks, with Kessler capitalizing on Pegula’s errors to even take a 4-2 lead, only for Pegula to break back and hold serve to level the score at 4-4. Both players managed to hold serve again, with Pegula stepping up to take a 6-5 lead.
The twelfth game proved pivotal. Kessler, serving to stay in the set, battled through a tense game, saving a break and set point at 40-30 before succumbing to Pegula’s relentless pressure. Pegula clinched the set 7-5 on her first set point.
Jessica Pegula Cruises to Victory Over McCartney Kessler in Dominant Second Set
The second set began unexpectedly, with Pegula losing her opening service game as Kessler grabbed an early 1-0 lead. However, Jessica Pegula responded immediately, breaking back to even the set at 1-1. Pegula’s resilience shone through as she held her serve and broke Kessler again to move ahead 3-1.
From there, Pegula maintained full control of the match. She confidently held serve to extend her lead to 4-1, showcasing form. Kessler managed to hold serve at 4-2, showing her fighting spirit, but Pegula was not to be denied. She held her next service game with ease, taking a 5-2 lead and putting the pressure firmly back on Kessler.
Serving to stay in the match, Kessler ran out of ideas and ultimately couldn’t resist Pegula’s aggressive play. The American converted her first match point at 40-30, breaking serve to wrap up the set 6-2 and clinch the match.
Pegula Builds Momentum with ATX Open Triumph, Kessler Gains Valuable Experience
This victory continues Pegula’s strong start to the 2025 season, adding to her ATX Open title. Her sharp form, consistent power, and strategic play make her a formidable contender as she looks to add more silverware to her collection this season.
For Kessler, the match provided valuable experience against a top player. Despite the loss, she demonstrated the potential to compete at the WTA level, gaining lessons that could fuel her growth in future tournaments.
Jessica Pegula carries strong momentum into the upcoming Sunshine Double, ready to tackle even bigger challenges on the WTA tour.