Daijiworld Media Network – Charleston
Charleston (USA), Apr 5: Top seed Jessica Pegula kept her title hopes alive at the WTA Charleston Open with a stunning comeback victory against defending champion Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Pegula, world No. 4, fought back from a set and a break down to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 win in a thrilling battle that lasted over 90 minutes.
Collins started strong, dominating the first set in just 33 minutes and breaking Pegula early in the second to lead 2-0. However, Pegula found her rhythm and adjusted her game to stage a remarkable turnaround.
“That was tough. She came out firing. I was not ready for that at all,” Pegula said after the match, crediting her comeback to tactical adjustments and improved serve placement.
“She was returning unbelievable — just hitting winner after winner off my serve,” she added. “I had to figure out a way to get my placement a little bit better.”
Pegula now advances to the semifinals where she will face 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, who continued her superb run by defeating third seed Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-4. Alexandrova did not face a single break point in the match and extended her perfect record against the Chinese star to 3-0.
In the other semifinal, American Sofia Kenin booked her spot with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Anna Kalinskaya, marking her first semifinal appearance since Tokyo 2023. She will take on compatriot Amanda Anisimova, who edged out fourth seed Emma Navarro 7-5, 7-6(1) in a closely contested encounter.
With three Americans in the last four, home fans have much to cheer as the Charleston Open heads into the final weekend.