Toray Pan Pacific Open: Kudermetova defeats Pegula to secure second career Grandslam title

Veronika Kudermetova pulled off her second Top 5 win of the week at the Toray Pan Pacific Open to claim her first title in over two years.

The No.8 seed returned to the winner’s circle on the Hologic WTA Tour for the first time in two-and-a-half years, taking home the Toray Pan Pacific Open title with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Jessica Pegula in Sunday’s final.

Kudermetova powered past No.2 seed Pegula in 1 hour and 24 minutes to capture her second career WTA singles title. Both of Kudermetova’s titles have been at WTA 500 events, with her previous trophy coming on the green clay of Charleston in April 2021.

The world No.19 Kudermetova clinched victory on Sunday by maintaining an undefeated record against World No.4 Pegula. In their lone previous encounter, Kudermetova had beaten Pegula on clay in the Madrid quarterfinals this spring.

“I’m really happy because before, it was not an easy time for me, it was really tough moments,” Kudermetova said. “Now I’m really happy and I have a lot of motivation for the next weeks.”

“Jessica is a great player, she’s a great fighter, and I prepared myself for the fight,” Kudermetova said, after her win. “When it was 5-5 in the first set, I just said to myself, ‘Veronika, you just need to fight, you just need to do everything that you can,’ and I did.”