Danielle Collins admits the big mistake she made against Jessica Pegula which ended up costing her the match

Danielle Collins Reflects on Mental Error That Cost Her Charleston Open Clash Against Jessica Pegula

Danielle Collins has admitted that a key mental lapse was the turning point in her defeat to Jessica Pegula at the 2025 Charleston Open.

The 31-year-old was aiming to defend her title at the WTA 500 event but was stopped by compatriot and World No. 4 Pegula in a dramatic three-set battle.

Collins got off to a flying start, dominating the first set 6-1 and grabbing an early break in the second. With a 2-0 lead, she looked poised for her first career win over Pegula. However, momentum quickly shifted.

From that point on, Pegula took control, winning 10 of the next 13 games to complete a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 comeback victory in just under two hours.

Reflecting on the loss, Collins cited her mindset as a key factor in the collapse.

“I think I just got into my own head about stuff and wasn’t in a positive mindset today, and that cost me the match,” Collins told reporters after the match.

The World No. 22 continued:

“I’m such a perfectionist. After the first set, I kind of felt like she wasn’t playing that well, and I got a little lucky. Then in the second set, I didn’t handle the tough moments well and started second-guessing myself.”

Praise for Pegula

Despite the disappointment, Collins was quick to praise Pegula for her resilience and well-rounded game.

“Jess’s movement is incredible. Her anticipation, her hands, and her ability to mix things up — it really puts you under pressure. I set up points well but couldn’t finish the way I wanted to.”

“Some of the shots I was making by fractions in the first set, I started missing by the same margin later on. That’s the risk with my aggressive style. Mentally, I was just disappointed, and physically I ran out of gas in the third.”

This marked the sixth meeting between the two Americans, with Pegula maintaining her unbeaten record against Collins. Pegula will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-finals.