"Cotton Eye Joe" song interrupts Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek at crucial moment in Montreal
Where did you come from, where did you go—how did this happen, Cotton Eye Joe?
WATCH: The 'Cotton-Eye Joe' song interrupted Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek at crucial moment in Montreal.
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe? Saturday's Omnium Banque Nationale semifinal match between Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek was interrupted at a crucial time by a famous country-pop party anthem.
After Pegula failed to serve out victory at 6-2, 5-4 and book her spot in the WTA 1000 final, the two players were locked in a second-set tiebreak when the meme-worthy moment occurred.
With world No. 1 Swiatek serving down 4-3, with Pegula in, at worst, a neutral position in the rally and, at best, with a chance to lead 5-3, the song "Cotton-Eye Joe" started blaring through the in-stadium speakers.
Thought it was quickly remedied, chair umpire Marija Cicak was forced to call a let, and the point needed to be replayed. After the interruption, a visibly-frustrated Pegula didn't win another point, and Swiatek came back to force a final set.
A rare moment in theory, the saga was, in fact, the second such awkward moment in a match featuring Pegula at the tournament. In the eighth game of the second set of her three-set win over Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals, the in-stadium lights went on mid-point as skies darkened, and also caused a let to be called.
Swiatek's momentum, in fact, continued on into the decider: In all, the Pole won 12 straight points following the pause in play (13 in total, as Pegula led 4-2 at the tiebreak's changeover).
But, Pegula had the last laugh. From 4-2 down in the final set, Pegula rallied for a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4 win to reach her third WTA 1000 final.