The Charleston Open semifinals are set, featuring three American players. Amanda Anisimova secured her spot after defeating hometown favorite Emma Navarro in a tight quarterfinal match, joining Jessica Pegula and Sofia Kenin. This is the first time since 2003 that three Americans have reached the semifinals of this tournament.
The question now is whether one of these Americans will clinch the title, or if Ekaterina Alexandrova will emerge victorious.
Jessica Pegula vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova (1 p.m. ET)
Pegula`s Advantage: Jessica Pegula is arguably the most in-form player in the semifinal lineup. She demonstrated resilience in her quarterfinal match against Danielle Collins, overcoming a slow start to win decisively. Pegula`s current form is reminiscent of Collins` dominant run last year when she won consecutive titles in Miami and Charleston.
Pegula reached the final in Miami and has been on a winning streak in Charleston, showcasing consistent and powerful tennis. While Alexandrova has defeated Pegula in their last two encounters, their only clay-court match four years ago in Rome was won by Pegula.
Pegula is playing exceptionally well, but she will need to elevate her game against Alexandrova, who has proven to be a challenging opponent.
Alexandrova`s Strengths: Ekaterina Alexandrova has a knack for defeating Pegula, having won their last two matches. In those matches, Alexandrova showed her ability to bounce back after losing the first set. Alexandrova is a player known for streaks, and after a recent series of wins, she is entering the semifinals with momentum, having defeated strong opponents like Diana Shnaider and Zheng Qinwen.
For Alexandrova, this is an opportunity to make personal history on clay. Despite a complex relationship with clay courts, she has reached two clay-court semifinals before, including Charleston in 2022, but is yet to reach a final.
Amanda Anisimova vs. Sofia Kenin (to follow)
Anisimova`s Chances: Amanda Anisimova displayed great determination in her quarterfinal win against Navarro. Her strong return game will be crucial against Kenin. Although their head-to-head record includes matches from eight years ago in ITF tournaments, Anisimova won their only clay-court encounter.
Anisimova is having a good year, with a WTA 1000 title win earlier in the season. This semifinal appearance matches her best Charleston result and marks her best performance in a WTA 500 event.
Kenin`s Path: Sofia Kenin, the only unseeded player remaining, has had an impressive run in Charleston, winning all her matches in straight sets, including victories over seeded players like Belinda Bencic, Daria Kasatkina, and Anna Kalinskaya. Kenin`s strong serve and return game have been key to her success this week.
Kenin acknowledges Anisimova`s solid and flat hitting style and anticipates a match where both players will aim to dictate play and avoid long rallies. For Kenin, reaching the semifinals here is a significant achievement, and she aims to reach her first clay-court final since the French Open in 2020.
Kenin is pleased with her current level of play and views this tournament as a great opportunity, expressing hope to advance to the final.
