The “scenic route” remains the path of choice for Jessica Pegula as she moved one step closer to a successful title defense at the WTA Charleston Open. On Saturday, the American top seed endured her fourth consecutive three-set battle of the week, ultimately overcoming fourth seed Iva Jovic with a gritty 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory. The marathon match, which lasted two hours and 35 minutes, highlighted Pegula’s trademark resilience on the green clay.
Despite hoping for a swifter afternoon after taking the opening set, the World No. 5 found herself pushed to the limit by the rising Jovic. “A win’s a win,” Pegula joked with the Tennis Channel after the match. “If I’m gonna win every match for the rest of my life, but it’s three sets, I’ll take the three sets.” Pegula is now eyeing her second trophy of the 2026 season following her earlier triumph in Dubai this February.
Standing between the 32-year-old New Yorker and the title is the week’s biggest surprise, Yuliia Starodubtseva. The unseeded Ukrainian continued her dream run by upsetting fifth seed Madison Keys 6-1, 6-4 in the other semifinal. Starodubtseva, currently ranked World No. 89, only gained a direct spot in the main draw after a late withdrawal, but she has made the most of the opportunity by neutralizing the power of top-tier opponents like Keys.
For the 26-year-old Ukrainian, Sunday represents a chance at her first career WTA title. She broke Keys’ serve four times in a dominant 31-minute opening set and remained composed to close out the match in the second. “I may not have expected this outcome… but hard work pays off,” Starodubtseva said. Whether Pegula’s experience or Starodubtseva’s momentum prevails, the Charleston final promises a fascinating contrast in styles.
Do you think Pegula’s back-to-back three-setters will leave her fatigued, or does it give her a competitive edge for the final?
