Jessica Pegula secured her seventh career title by winning the WTA 250 ATX Open in Austin, defeating fellow American McCartney Kessler in the final with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
As the tournament's marquee player and top favorite, Pegula lived up to expectations from start to finish. It’s rare to see a player of her caliber headline a WTA 250 event. While smaller tournaments occasionally have clear pre-tournament favorites, upsets often prevent them from claiming the title and the valuable ranking points that come with it.
Road to the final
Known for her remarkable consistency, Pegula was a heavy favorite in all her matches in Austin. After cruising through her first three rounds, she faced her first real challenge in Saturday’s semifinal against Ajla Tomljanovic. The Australian pushed Pegula to a deciding set, capitalizing on her inconsistent play in the second. However, Tomljanović also struggled with unforced errors, committing over 30 throughout the match. Pegula ultimately raised her level in the decider, closing out the contest 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in what was a rather erratic battle from both sides.
On the other side of the draw, Kessler emerged as the strongest player from a half that saw the early exits of the top-seeded contenders. An all-American final seemed inevitable once the quarterfinals were set, and Kessler delivered, securing her place in the championship match. She reached the final in even more dominant fashion, defeating Greet Minnen in straight sets with a display of confident shot-making.
Having already won a WTA 250 title in Hobart earlier this year, Kessler’s strong form gave her a fighting chance in the final, as reflected in the betting odds. Pegula remained the favorite but was given a 1.33 average odd—significantly higher than in her previous Austin matches, where her odds hovered around 1.00 (her highest before the final was 1.18 against Tomljanović). Despite the straight-sets scoreline, Kessler led in both sets but struggled to handle the pressure of the final. Her errors while in an attacking position allowed Pegula to seize control at crucial moments, ultimately securing the title.
Ranking Movements
With this victory, Jessica Pegula solidifies her position as World No. 4 in the WTA rankings. Meanwhile, McCartney Kessler climbs eight spots to No. 48, just one place shy of her career-high ranking. Ajla Tomljanović makes the biggest leap following her Austin campaign, moving up 17 places to re-enter the Top 100 at No. 94.
