Top-seeded Jessica Pegula fought her way into her first Credit One Charleston Open final on Saturday, twice recovering from a break down in the third set to secure a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 semifinal victory over ninth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova.
World No. 4 Pegula, previously a Charleston semifinalist for the past two years, advanced further this time at the WTA 500 green-clay event. She demonstrated resilience on a windy day, overcoming 26th-ranked Alexandrova in 2 hours and 20 minutes and leveling their head-to-head record at 2-2.
Pegula is set to compete against fellow American Sofia Kenin in Saturday`s final. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, advanced after another American, eighth-seeded Amanda Anisimova, retired from their semifinal due to a right hip injury. Kenin was leading 5-2 in the first set when Anisimova stopped playing.
Pegula holds a 3-2 lead in her head-to-head record against Kenin. Pegula won their most recent encounter, defeating former World No. 4 Kenin in the second round of last year`s US Open on her path to her first Grand Slam singles final.
This is the first all-American final at Charleston since Martina Navratilova defeated Jennifer Capriati in the 1990 final.
New tour win leader: Jessica Pegula has now taken the lead in Hologic WTA Tour match wins for 2025. Her victory over Alexandrova was her 24th WTA main-draw win of the year, placing her ahead of Aryna Sabalenka`s 23.
Pegula displayed early dominance on Saturday, going 20 minutes without an unforced error. Reaching a 5-0 lead in the first set, she extended a 14-game winning streak that began in the second set of her quarterfinal win against defending champion Danielle Collins.
However, the second set presented a different challenge as Alexandrova`s powerful game intensified. Alexandrova hit 14 winners compared to Pegula`s two in that set, and the ninth seed evened the match at one set each.
In a fluctuating third set, Pegula twice fought back from a break down. At 5-5, Pegula placed a backhand into the corner, forcing an error from Alexandrova and creating an opportunity to serve for the match. In the following game, Pegula delivered another backhand, this time down the line, converting her second match point.
More to come…
