Beating the best: Jessica Pegula first to face top four in a single event since records began

Tennis star Jessica Pegula has perhaps saved her best tennis for the final tournament of the season, as the American put on a clinic during her run at the 2023 WTA Finals.

The World No.5 left several big names in her wake at the WTA Finals in Cancun, breezing through the round robin group stage and semifinals of the year-ending event.

The 29-year old defeated World No.4 Elena Rybakina and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the group stage of the elite event. After taking out World No.8 Maria Sakkari to qualify for the semifinals, Pegula brushed past good friend and doubles teammate Coco Gauff in the semifinals, who currently sits at World No.3 on the WTA Rankings table.

Following her clash against World No.2 Iga Swiatek in the final, Pegula set a new WTA. The Buffalo native became the first player to face the World No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4 players in a single WTA event since the rankings were established in 1975. It comes as no surprise, as the American has been one of the most hard-working and consistent players on tour during the 2023 season.