“You’re a freaking beast”: Sofia Kenin lauds Jessica Pegula for Miami turnaround to Charleston Open title

Sofia Kenin has commended Jessica Pegula for her dominant performance in the Charleston Open final, where Pegula claimed her first-ever clay-court title with a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

After suffering defeats to Daria Kasatkina and Coco Gauff during the Sunshine Double, Kenin quickly shifted her focus to the clay season, where she made an impressive run in Charleston. The former Australian Open champion, who has faced numerous challenges in recent years, showcased her strength and resilience once again, but ultimately fell short in the final.

Following the match, Kenin lauded Pegula, describing her as a “freaking beast” and acknowledging the difficulties of transitioning from the hard courts in Miami to the clay of Charleston. She also expressed her admiration for the tournament itself, which is managed by the Navarro family, with Emma Navarro—a top-10 player—and her father, Ben, serving as tournament director.

“First of all, I want to congratulate Jess on a great match. You’ve been playing fantastic all year, and I’ve said it before, you’re a freaking beast. Coming straight from Miami to here, congratulations to you and your team—it was a well-deserved win,” Kenin said, as reported by Tennis Channel.

Kenin also took a moment to thank the Navarro family for hosting the event, expressing her enjoyment of the tournament and eagerness to return in the future.

“I want to thank the Navarro family and everyone for making this tournament possible. I’ve had such a great time here, and this tournament feels like home. I can’t wait to be back next year,” Kenin added, receiving an enthusiastic reaction from the Charleston crowd.

In her post-match comments, Kenin acknowledged her team’s efforts and reflected on the progress she had made throughout the week.

“Thank you to my team for all your hard work; we’ve made great strides this week. Now it’s time to regroup and get ready for more clay challenges. And last but not least, thank you to the fans—you’ve been amazing. I can’t wait to return next year.”

Match Statistics – Pegula vs. Kenin