Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA National Bank Open

Prediction published on 12/08/2023, 06:23  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/08/2023 at 07:22 in Tennis Predictions

World number one Iga Swiatek faces third seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the final of the National Bank Open. Whoever wins this match will take on either Elena Rybakina or Luidmila Samsonova in the final. Swiatek has won four titles on the WTA Tour this year and later this month will defend her US Open title. This is all good outdoor hard court preparation for Swiatek who is bidding to win her second successive title. After failing to win Wimbledon, the Pole returned home and won the Warsaw hard court title. Five matches in that tournament were all won in straight sets but it's been a bit tougher in Montreal for the top seed. Sets have been dropped against Karolina Muchova and in the last eight, Danielle Collins, both after winning the first set. Swiatek leads Pegula 5-2 in previous meetings with five wins in the last six matches. 

One of Pegula's wins over Swiatek was achieved four years ago. The American did beat Swiatek in the United Cup this year and they then met in the Doha final. Swiatek won that for the loss of three games, all in the first set. Jessica Pegula is the world number four but was third at the start of this WTA 1000 event. To get back to third place, she'll need to win the title. Pegula may be near the top of the rankings but her record when it comes to winning singles titles is not impressive. Only two have been won and just one since 2019 and yet to play in a Grand Slam singles semi-final, that really has to be improved on. Only one set has been lost by her on the way to this semi-final. That was in the last eight when beating her doubles partner Coco Gauff. It's likely to be closer than their Doha meeting but we still believe it's Swiatek who can win this match.