Magda Linette Turns the Tables After Overnight Delay
Jessica Pegula’s Cincinnati Open defense ended abruptly as Magda Linette came from behind to score a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 upset in a match split over two days due to heavy rain. Pegula, who lost only two matches during last year’s North American swing and captured a WTA 1000 title in Toronto, has now dropped four of her last six matches.
Play was suspended Tuesday night with Pegula looking poised to seize control, but the overnight break stalled her momentum. Linette, who reached a career-high ranking of No.19 two years ago at the age of 31, regrouped and struck in the decider, securing the lone break in the eighth game and saving all three break points she faced in the set.
Linette vs Pegula – Match Stats
| Statistic | Linette | Pegula |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.01 | 0.99 |
| Serve Rating | 235 | 242 |
| Aces | 6 | 5 |
| Double Faults | 6 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 65% (62/96) | 60% (61/102) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 74% (46/62) | 61% (37/61) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 29% (10/34) | 54% (22/41) |
| Break Points Saved | 44% (4/9) | 62% (8/13) |
| Service Games | 67% (10/15) | 67% (10/15) |
| Ace % | 6.3% | 4.9% |
| Double Fault % | 6.3% | 4.9% |
| Return Rating | 156 | 186 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 39% (24/61) | 26% (16/62) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 46% (19/41) | 71% (24/34) |
| Break Points Won | 38% (5/13) | 56% (5/9) |
| Return Games | 33% (5/15) | 33% (5/15) |
| Pressure Points | 41% (9/22) | 59% (13/22) |
| Service Points | 58% (56/96) | 58% (59/102) |
| Return Points | 42% (43/102) | 42% (40/96) |
| Total Points | 50% (99/198) | 50% (99/198) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 8 |
| Total Games Won | 50% (15/30) | 50% (15/30) |
| Max Games In A Row | 4 | 3 |
| Match Duration | 2h 26m | |
From Dominance to Doubt Ahead of the US Open
Pegula entered the summer as a strong contender for the No.2 spot in the WTA rankings, but a surge from Coco Gauff and her own dip in form has her projected to fall to the No.5 seed for the US Open. The Buffalo native had held a 3-0 head-to-head lead over Linette before this match and was the defending finalist in Cincinnati, but her recent inconsistency has raised questions about her title chances in New York.
Linette’s victory adds to a growing résumé of big upsets in 2025 — both of her top-10 wins this season have come against Americans ranked inside the top five, having stunned Gauff in Miami earlier this year.
Linette’s Emotional Win and the Road Ahead
“This day is really special,” Linette said post-match. “I’ve had so many tough losses on this court, and to finally beat someone like Jess — such an unbelievable ballstriker and person — means a lot.”
The Pole now faces a delayed third-round matchup against either Clara Tauson or Veronika Kudermetova, with the chance to match her best WTA 1000 result. Elsewhere in Cincinnati, Madison Keys faces Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek cruised past Sorana Cîrstea, Aryna Sabalenka takes on Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and Ekaterina Alexandrova meets Anna Kalinskaya to close the night session.