Pegula beats Anisimova to successfully defend women's Canadian tennis title

Jessica Pegula had just lost her first set of the National Bank Open.

The momentum was on the side of an opponent seated several metres away — a hard-hitting, former Grand Slam semifinalist in the midst of an impressive climb back up the WTA Tour rankings.

Feeling right at home not far from where she grew up, Pegula didn't blink.

And then continued to dominate north of the border.

The No. 3 seed topped Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to defend her NBO women's singles crown in Monday's all-American title match.

The product of nearby Buffalo, N.Y., also won last year's Canadian tennis championship in Montreal and improved her all-time mark at the event to 17-2.

WATCH | Pegula overcomes Anisimova to claim 2nd straight NBO crown:

"I really wanted this one," said Pegula, who picked up her sixth tournament victory overall. "I know everyone's talking about my record and all this stuff, but it's nice to be able to get through the week and to back it up.

"Just super excited an honour, really."

Pegula, ranked No. 6 in the world, is the first woman to repeat in Canada since Martina Hingis in 2000.

"I've always just played well here," said the 30-year-old. "Especially Toronto, it's nice. It's so close to Buffalo, I had a lot of friends, family [in the stands]. And my grandparents, my husband.

"I don't really get that at a lot of tournaments."

Anisimova, who entered the week ranked 132nd as she continues her comeback after stepping away from the game for a mental health break last year, beat three top-20 players in Toronto, including No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.

"Really thought I had it there after the second set, but she really stepped it up," said Anisimova, who will wake up Tuesday at No. 49 in the rankings. "She