TORONTO (AP) — Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed and the sixth-ranked WTA Tour player, defended her National Bank Open women’s singles title by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in Monday’s all-American final.
Pegula, from nearby Buffalo, New York, won last year’s National Bank Open in Montreal and improved her all-time record at the Canadian tennis championship to 17-2 in picking up the sixth tournament victory of her career.
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Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, serves to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, serves to Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts after dropping the first set to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reaches for a drop shot return from Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, returns to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts to getting her serve broken by opponent Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, stretches during her match against Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, in women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, serves to Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, in women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Anisimova, who entered the week ranked No. 132 in the world as she continues her comeback after stepping away from the game for a mental health break, beat three top-20 players in Toronto, including No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
Monday’s showdown marked just the second time the final of a WTA 1000 event — one step below the sport’s four Grand Slams — has featured two Americans since the format was first introduced in 2009, with the only other instance coming in 2016 when Serena Williams defeated Madison Keys in Rome.
Pegula, who improved to 3-0 against Anisimova after also topping her on clay earlier this season, beat Liudmila Samsonova in last year’s final.
The 30-year-old picked up a break in the first game and led 5-3 when Anisimova double-faulted to go down a set.
Anisimova trailed love-40 in the second set before battling back to hold and then broke Pegula to go up 2-1 following a long rally.
The 22-year-old former French Open semifinalist then pushed ahead 5-2 with another break when Pegula committed a double fault before holding serve to hand Pegula her first dropped set of the tournament.
Monday marked the first time two American women have played for Canada’s national championship since Serena Williams defeated Jennifer Capriati in 2001.
Pegula is the first player to register 10 consecutive wins in women’s singles at the Canadian Open since Serena Williams put up 14 wins from 2011 to 2014.
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Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, serves to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, serves to Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts after dropping the first set to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reaches for a drop shot return from Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, returns to Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts to getting her serve broken by opponent Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, stretches during her match against Jessica Pegula, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, in women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, serves to Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, during women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessica Pegula, of the United States, celebrates after her win over Amanda Anisimova, also of the United States, in women's singles final action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan saw record-high exports last year, as its annual trade deficit declined 44% from the previous year, the Finance Ministry reported Thursday.
The trade deficit, which measures the value of exports minus imports, totaled 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion), according to government data, as imports ballooned on the back of rising energy costs and growing inflation around the world.
Exports from the world’s third-largest economy totaled 107.9 trillion yen ($691 billion), surpassing the 100 trillion yen mark for the second-straight year, and the biggest value on record for comparable data, which dates back to 1979, the ministry said.
Some companies may have sped up their exports in anticipation of potential tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump has said he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1. During his campaign, he threatened to impose tariffs on imports from China, although details on that remain unclear.
For the month of December, exports gained a greater-than-expected 2.8% on-year, while imports rose 1.8%. Exports grew to Asian and European nations, while dipping slightly to the U.S.
Imports grew most from India, Hong Kong and Iran.
Demand was especially strong for Japan's vehicles, semiconductors and other machinery.
The weakening yen, another recent trend, has the effect of inflating the value of imports. The U.S. dollar has been hovering at 150-yen levels, sometimes surpassing 160 yen, over the past year, while a year ago it was often at 140-yen levels.
Japan has recorded a trade deficit for four straight years, but last year's deficit was considerably smaller than the 9.5 trillion yen deficit for 2023.
FILE - Cars for export are parked at a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)