Jessica Pegula Reaches First Charleston Open Final with Resilient Win

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jessica Pegula, the No. 1 seed, secured her spot in the final of the Credit One Charleston Open on Saturday, defeating No. 9 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in a thrilling semifinal match. Pegula, ranked No. 4 in the world, overcame two breaks in the deciding set to clinch the victory in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

This is Pegula’s first final appearance at the Charleston Open, after being eliminated in the semifinals for the last two years. “It’s been the same kind of storyline in the past when I’ve played her,” Pegula reflected post-match. “Played a good first set, she comes back in the second, and then, usually, I tend to lose the third. So glad I was able to flip that script today.”

Pegula’s win also ties the series between her and Alexandrova at 2-2. Next, she will face fellow American Sofia Kenin, who advanced to the final when No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova was forced to retire with a right hip injury while trailing 5-2 in the first set.

<p“I’m feeling very good with the level I’ve played throughout the week,” Kenin stated after her semifinal. “It’s unfortunate that Amanda had to retire, I wish her a speedy recovery.” They last met in a competitive match at the US Open, where Pegula defeated Kenin en route to her first Grand Slam final.

The Charleston final marks the first all-American matchup since Martina Navratilova triumphed over Jennifer Capriati in 1990. Pegula’s recent victory has propelled her to the top of the Hologic WTA Tour match-win leaderboard for 2025, now boasting 24 wins this year, one ahead of Aryna Sabalenka‘s 23.

The semifinal match against Alexandrova showcased Pegula’s resilience; she saved 15 of 21 break points against her. In the opening set, Pegula dominated but faced a fierce comeback from Alexandrova in the second set, where the Russian executed 14 winners compared to Pegula’s two.

<p“[Alexandrova is] a really good player,” Pegula acknowledged. “There’s a reason she beats a lot of top players … Her game is tough to play against.” The final presents another significant test for Pegula, who seeks to continue her successful run after adapting quickly from hard courts to the green clay of Charleston.

Kenin’s journey in the tournament has been impressive, recovering from a slump that saw her ranked No. 235 at the end of 2022 to securing a final spot now. Both players are poised to fight for the championship, each holding personal stakes to claim the title.

<p“It's great that one of us is going to hold the trophy — and I hope I’ll be the one,” Kenin declared confidently. As anticipation builds for Sunday’s final, both players appear ready to battle for the title in Charleston.