Latest news with #WTACharlestonOpen
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pegula wins WTA Charleston after Kenin collapse
Jessica Pegula won her second title of the season with victory at the WTA Charleston Open (MATTHEW STOCKMAN) Jessica Pegula took advantage of a dramatic collapse by Sofia Kenin to claim her second title of the season with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the WTA Charleston Open final on Sunday. After dropping the opening set, Kenin looked poised to force a decider after breaking Pegula's serve three times to race into a 5-1 lead in the second set. Advertisement But the unseeded American's composure unraveled in a sea of unforced errors, allowing Pegula to reel off six straight games to clinch her second win of the year following her victory at the ATX Open in Austin last month. The 31-year-old Pegula showed great character to save three set points in the eighth game of the second before claiming a break of serve to narrow the deficit to 5-3. She then held to make it 5-4 and secured another service break to level. A rock-solid service -- sealed with an ace -- left Pegula 6-5 up, with Kenin at a loss to halt her compatriot's momentum. She quickly raced into a 0-30 lead and when Kenin smacked a lazy forehand long she was presented with three match points. Kenin never looked like turning things around and she promptly double-faulted to hand Pegula victory. rcw/
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pegula rallies to reach Charleston final
Jessica Pegula reached her third final in four tournaments with a three-set victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova at the WTA Charleston Open (MATTHEW STOCKMAN) Top seed Jessica Pegula staged a final-set rally to defeat Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and reach the final of the WTA Charleston Open clay court tournament on Saturday. Pegula, who ousted defending champion Danielle Collins in Friday's quarter-finals, looked to be in trouble after falling 4-2 behind in the decisive set to leave Alexandrova serving for a 5-2 lead. Advertisement But Alexandrova handed Pegula a lifeline with a shaky service game, and after finding herself down 15-40, gifted her opponent a break with a double fault. Pegula then held to level at 4-4 and although Alexandrova also held for a 5-4 lead, Pegula was clearly in the ascendant. The American leveled on serve at 5-5, and then grabbed a crucial break in the 11th game for a 6-5 lead to leave her serving for the match. Pegula soon held two match points at 40-15, and although Alexandrova saved the first with a crosscourt forehand into the corner, Pegula lasered a backhand down the line to clinch victory. "That was a tough match -- it wasn't the prettiest," said Pegula, who will face either eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Sofia Kenin in Sunday's final. Advertisement Pegula said the blustery conditions had caused problems for both players. "It was really windy -- there were some awkward shots and we were both very uncomfortable," she said. "On some short balls and low balls, it was kind of swirling. I was just trying not to get frustrated." Pegula has now reached the final in three of her past four tournaments, winning the ATX Open in Austin last month before advancing to the Miami Open last week, where she lost in straight sets to Aryna Sabalenka. rcw/sev
