'Cotton Eye Joe' astonishingly interrupts pivotal rally between Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek
Swiatek won the set despite the interruption but lost the match
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek were locked in the heat of battle at the National Bank Open in Canada on Saturday with the winner moving onto the final in a tune-up before the U.S. Open later this month.
The two competitors were in the midst of a second-set tiebreaker. If Pegula won, she would’ve swept the top-ranked female tennis player. If Swiatek won, she would’ve forced a third set. The Montreal tennis fans were locked in as the two traded shots.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jessica Pegula shakes hands with Iga Swiatek following the semifinals of the National Bank Open, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Then, the unthinkable happened. The song "Cotton Eye Joe" blared in the loudspeakers.
"’Cotton Eye Joe’ just came on mid-rally," the broadcaster said. "Oh wow."
The umpire stopped play after the baffling moment to replay the point.
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Iga Swiatek reacts during her game against Jessica Pegula at the National Bank Open, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
"I just thought it was funny. I never had that happen, let alone with ‘Cotton Eye Joe.’ I was like is this really happening, right now," Pegula said. "Of all the songs. It was just like… what is going on?"
Swiatek ended up winning the tiebreaker 7-4 to force a third and decisive set. Pegula put the Polish tennis star away 6-4 and moved on to the final. Pegula broke serve 11 times and was finally to get into the tournament’s final after failing in the semis the last two years.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It was a great match," Pegula said. "It was tough. Kind of a roller-coaster. Really up and down, but I’m glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end."
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Jessica Pegula hits a return to Iga Swiatek at the National Bank Open, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pegula will meet the winner between Elina Rybakina and Liudmila Samsonova on Sunday night.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.