Final day in Madrid.
2022 Mutua Madrid Open - a WTA 1000 tournament, on Clay, in Madrid, Spain, 28 April - 7 May 2022.
Defending champion:
Aryna Sabalenka (5) who defeated Ashleigh Barty (1) 6-0 3-6 6-4
Final:
Jessica Pegula (12) (USA) v Ons Jabeur (8) (Tunisia)
The four previous meetings between the pair were split 2-2, with Pegula winning the first two.
Jabeur won the most recent - a second round match in Dubai, February this year.
Pegula was competing in her fourth WTA final, but first at 1000 level.
Her only win to date came in Washington D.C. in August 2019.
Jabeur was competing in her sixth WTA final, also her first at 1000 level.
Her only win to date came in Birmingham in June 2021.
Pegula served first and held, but only after surviving four deuces and saving three break points.
The American saved another break point in the third game, then broke Jabeur to lead 3-1.
Jabeur broke back in the seventh game, and saved a set point when serving at 4-5.
Pegula’s disappointment at not converting that set point manifested in the following game when she was broken to love.
Jabeur served out the set 7-5.
Set two began the same way as the first, with Pegula saving three break points before holding.
That was her only difficulty because no more break chances came the way of Jabeur, who also lost all games on her own serve.
6-0 to Pegula and a third set to decide.
Jabeur stopped the bleeding by breaking Pegula in the opening game of the decider.
Pegula returned the favour, but Jabeur made it three breaks in a row for a 2-1 advantage.
At 2-4, Pegula wasted two game points, then folded when a break point arrived, leaving Jabeur to serve for the match.
Jabeur missed with two backhands. 0-30. Volley and forehand winners from the Tunisian racquet, plus a forehand error from Pegula, gave Jabeur match point.
A return out of court ended the match.
Ons Jabeur took the Madrid Open title 7-5 0-6 6-2.
Jabeur moves ups to #7, equalling her career high ranking, and despite losing, Pegula moves up to a career high ranking of #11.
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