Pegula subdues Shnaider 7-5, 6-4 to reach Citi DC Open final
Jessica Pegula, the world #3, claimed her first WTA title 7 years ago in Washington, DC, and tomorrow will attempt to win her twelfth overall and second in the nation’s capital. The 32-year-old and top seed led Diana Shnaider 3-0 in the head-to-head, but the Buffalo native knew better than to underestimate her much younger opponent.
Shnaider is currently ranked #18 but reached a career high of 11 in May of 2025. The Russian southpaw took a set off Pegula at the Credit One Charleston Open this past April and looked on course to take the opener at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, a WTA 500 event.
Shnaider served first and held easily to 15 while Pegula donated three consecutive unforced errors to drop serve. Shnaider gifted her first double fault and the break back. Pegula returned the favor with a double fault and an overcooked backhand to dump serve.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Shnaider, in her tournament debut, continued to dictate with the forehand and though she faced a double break point and deuce, held to consolidate the break to move to 4-1. The American opened the sixth with two consecutive errors but with an incredible inside-in forehand, held for 2-4.
Shnaider made 4/4 first serves and, with an extraordinary inside-out backhand, held at love for 5-2. Pegula continued to find success at the net. Though she donated her second double fault, she struck her first ace and held easily to 15 for 3-5. Shnaider, serving for the set, opened with a double fault and dropped serve following a mix of unforced errors and winners from her opponent.
Pegula kept her foot on the gas and consolidated the break at love, 5-5, while Shnaider came undone. She repeatedly chose the wrong shot and, as a result, committed a slew of unforced errors.
Although she led 40-15, she faced two deuce points, a break point, and dropped serve after a stray forehand. Pegula, serving for the set, opened with an ace up the tee and, with a spectacular crosscourt backhand, secured it 7-5.
Shnaider served first in the second and, with two winners, including a forehand drop shot, held to 30 while Pegula missed three consecutive first serves yet held to 30 to level.
The fourth seed hit two consecutive winners including her first ace and held to 30 for 2-1 while Pegula struck two winners and held to 15 to level. The Russian, serving with new balls, gifted four consecutive errors to dump serve. Pegula was poised while ratcheting up the pressure, held easily to 15 to consolidate the break. Shnaider appeared dejected and disinterested. Despite making 3/5 first serves, the southpaw faced double break point and dropped serve when Pegula ripped a forehand inside-in.
Pegula served for the match leading 5-2. The final game is typically the most challenging, and it was for Pegula. She opened with two consecutive errors, and though she saved a break point with her third ace, dumped serve following three consecutive unforced errors.
The crowd appeared stunned as Shnaider prepared to serve. Although she opened with a netted backhand, she held to 30 with two consecutive body serves that jammed her opponent. Pegula once again served for the match and a place in the final. Despite missing 5/6 first serves, she secured victory with a colossal crosscourt forehand.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the top seed raised her level while maintaining her composure to clinch a straight-sets victory. She won 74% of first and 54% of second serve points and saved 2/5 break points while converting 5/8.
On championship Sunday, she’ll take on another southpaw, Alexandra Eala. The twenty-one-year-old phenom from the Philippines is at a career-high rank of 28. A graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy, Eala dispatched two top-fifteen players – Elina Svitolina (#10) and Naomi Osaka (#13) en route to the final. This will be her second tour level meeting with Pegula, having lost a tight three -setter last year in Miami.
Eala is seeking her first tour level title while Pegula is playing for her twelfth.