Setting Up Sunday: Opportunity knocks for Alex de Minaur, Jannik Sinner and Jessica Pegula

WATCH: Jessica Pegula beat Iga Swiatek for the second time this year in the semifinals in Montreal.

In the first of two combined ATP and WTA 1000 events ahead of the US Open, Sunday in Canada sees two men in search of their biggest career title, while Jessica Pegula must first wait to see who she'll face in the championship. Joel Drucker offers a look ahead at what's set to take place on Sunday.

WTA Montreal: Pegula’s telling talent

As I watched Jessica Pegula earn two dramatic three-set victories over Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek to reach the final of this WTA 1000 event, it was only natural to think of Nick Kyrgios.

Huh?

Kyrgios and Pegula represent twin sides of the tennis coin. Chiseled into this coin is one word: talent. Typically, it’s associated with what Kyrgios displays during his inspired moments–a seemingly effortless and layered cascade of power, touch and speed. Never mind that Kyrgios often comes off as a disaffected and arguably negligent caretaker of his wonderful set of skills.

But Pegula? Her talent is the one I value most: persistence, demonstrated by the high level of dedication and professionalism she brings to her entire career. The scores of her Gauff and Swiatek matches speak volumes to Pegula’s tenacity. Versus Gauff, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. Against Swiatek, Pegula rallied from 4-2 down in the third set to win 16 of the last 19 points and earn a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4 victory.

“It was tough,” Pegula said afterwards. “Kind of a roller coaster. Really up and down, but I'm glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end.”

Pegula’s most notable assets are her flat, hard, deep, groundstrokes. She also has fine skills at the net, greatly aided by her doubles partnership with Gauff.

Seeking her third Hologic WTA Tour singles title, Pegula will play the winner of a Sunday-afternoon semifinal between two very powerful hitters, world No. 4 Elena Rybakina and 18th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova. Originally scheduled to take place Saturday evening, this match was postponed due to rain. Pegula is 2-1 versus both.

Kyrgios and Pegula: Which form of talent would you prefer? I lean towards Pegula, knowing that I took tons of the steps necessary and maximized the chance to earn a living playing a game.

ATP Toronto: Two men seek a major breakthrough

When it comes to tournament finals, there’s nothing more appealing than when each player has so much at stake that victory will greatly propel his or her career. That’s the case Sunday at this ATP Masters 1000 final between No. 8 Jannik Sinner and 18th-ranked Alex de Minaur.

Sinner, still only 21 years old, has won seven singles title. At events of this level, though, Sinner’s best efforts are a pair of runner-up showings in Miami in two of the last three years. So far in Toronto, he’s played his by-now familiar brand of high-octane, power tennis. In Saturday’s semifinal, Sinner delivered when it mattered most to beat Tommy Paul, 6-4, 6-4 – including one rally that lasted a breathtaking 46 shots. One evening prior, he won a captivating three-setter versus an inspired Gael Monfils.

In reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final, the 24-year-old de Minaur has had a breakthrough week. Saturday’s 6-1, 6-3 semifinal win over the always inspired Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was a master class in wind management: first-rate footwork and wire-to-wire poise.

“Very windy, and not easy to play tennis, so from the first point I just told myself to stay positive,” de Minaur said.

This semi was much easier than de Minaur's other victories. In the quarters, de Minaur overcame a 2-5 opening-set deficit and three set points to squeak past No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, 7-6(7), 7-5. He also rallied from 1-5 in the first set to win a three-set second round over Taylor Fritz, and in the first round, fought back from 3-5 and a set point down in the opening set to defeat No. 13 Cameron Norrie.

Sinner has won all four times they’ve played one another, including a victory in the finals of the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals.

Back then, each man’s pro career had only dawned. On Sunday afternoon, they have a chance to step forward under big, bright lights.