Americans Excel at Charleston Open, Navarro Reaches Quarterfinals

Charleston, SC — American tennis players excelled on Wednesday at the Credit One Charleston Open, with four athletes advancing to the Round of 16. They followed the success of three compatriots who had won their matches the previous day.

No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 4 seed Emma Navarro led the charge, winning their first matches of the clay-court season without losing a significant number of games. Pegula, fresh off a runner-up finish at the Miami Open, dominated qualifier Iryna Shymanovich with a 6-0, 6-3 scoreline.

“I wish I would’ve held for 3-0, [but] I felt like she really picked up her level,” Pegula said after the match. She will face Ajla Tomljanovic in her next match, a player she defeated earlier this year at the ATX Open. Navarro, a favorite in Charleston, triumphed over compatriot Hailey Baptiste with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Also winning on Wednesday were No. 15 seed Ashlyn Krueger and unseeded Sofia Kenin, who each achieved straight-set victories. Krueger outlasted Katie Volynets 6-3, 7-6(4), marking her first time advancing to the Round of 16 at this event.

Kenin overwhelmed No. 17 seed Belinda Bencic 6-0, 6-3, showcasing a commanding performance that included rallying after falling behind in the second set. Kenin’s next challenge will be No. 5 seed Daria Kasatkina, who comfortably won her match against Lauren Davis.

In a thrilling reversal, Navarro made it to the quarterfinals at her home tournament for the first time, overcoming No. 15 seed Krueger 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. “There’s just something about being at home,” Navarro said regarding the unique pressure of playing in Charleston. “I have to remind myself, OK, I’m in a tournament. Stay focused.” Navarro is set to face No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova, who won her match against No. 10 seed Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-4.

Zheng Qinwen of China also advanced in the tournament, defeating Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 6-1 in her second-round match. This was Zheng’s first appearance at the Charleston Open since her debut in 2022. “I believe who does that better [transitions from hard to clay courts] can win the tournament,” Zheng said after her victory.

With her recent success on clay — including a gold medal win at the Olympics last year — Zheng has developed a 12-match winning streak on the surface. Her upcoming opponent will be No. 13 seed Elise Mertens, marking the first time Zheng will face the Belgian.