Jessica Pegula admits what she really struggled with in her semi-final match at the Charleston Open
Jessica Pegula fought her way to her first-ever final at the Charleston Open, overcoming Ekaterina Alexandrova in a hard-fought semi-final. Pegula, who had reached the Miami Open final only to fall to world number one Aryna Sabalenka, continued her strong run in Charleston despite some challenging moments.
While Pegula’s victory over Alexandrova was impressive, it was clear that it wasn’t smooth sailing. She had to battle back after being a break down in the deciding set, ultimately securing a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 win. This was particularly significant as it marked Pegula’s first win over Alexandrova since 2021, following two losses in their most recent encounters.
In her post-match press conference, Pegula reflected on her struggles and the factors that made the match difficult. Aside from Alexandrova’s solid play, Pegula admitted that the weather conditions in Charleston also played a major role in her discomfort.
“It was just a crafty match today, the conditions were really tough,” Pegula said. “It was super windy, especially on one side, which made the shots awkward. The wind caused some issues with footwork and timing, and it was hard to find a balance between being aggressive and playing with margin.”
Despite these challenges, Pegula was pleased with how she turned things around, particularly after losing the second set and struggling in previous years’ semi-finals at Charleston.
Pegula’s Clay Court Ambitions
With this victory, Pegula is now poised to claim her first-ever clay court title, having previously lost in her only other final on the surface, at the Madrid Open in 2022. She will face compatriot Sofia Kenin in the Charleston Open final, where she has a chance not only to win her first clay title but also to become the American number one, surpassing Coco Gauff, if she lifts the WTA 500 trophy.
Pegula’s Approach to Crowd Engagement
As the home player in Charleston, Pegula enjoyed the support of the crowd, but she revealed that she prefers to keep her energy focused on the match rather than engaging too much with the audience.
“I can’t get too emotionally invested in the match because it drains me,” Pegula explained. “I’m not one to fist-pump to the crowd. If I did that, I’d feel completely zapped. But I could definitely feel their energy, and I used it to stay focused and avoid getting frustrated when things weren’t going my way.”
Despite her restrained approach to the crowd, Pegula acknowledged that the Charleston crowd’s presence always feels special, especially in key moments.
With her eyes on the final and a potential career milestone, Pegula will aim to build on her momentum and make history in Charleston.
