Pegula Stages Comeback to Advance in Charleston; Kenin, Alexandrova, Anisimova Also Progress
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Synopsis
Jessica Pegula impressively rallied from a set and a break down to defeat defending champion Danielle Collins at the WTA Charleston Open. Other semifinalists include Sofia Kenin, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Amanda Anisimova, who all delivered strong performances.
Key Takeaways
- Jessica Pegula came back after losing the first set to win against Danielle Collins.
- Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Zheng Qinwen without facing a break point.
- Sofia Kenin returned to the semifinals after a long hiatus.
- Amanda Anisimova continued her excellent form with a win over Emma Navarro.
- The semifinals promise exciting matchups featuring top talents.
Charleston, April 5 (NationPress) Top seed Jessica Pegula executed an impressive comeback to maintain her championship aspirations at the WTA Charleston Open, overcoming a set and a break disadvantage to defeat defending champion Danielle Collins 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter on Friday.
Collins, recognized for her forceful baseline play, started strong, dominating Pegula to clinch the first set in a mere 33 minutes while breaking early in the second for a 2-0 lead. However, Pegula demonstrated grit and poise, modifying her strategy to turn the match around. “That was tough,” Pegula reflected post-match. “She came out firing. I was not ready for that at all.”
The world No. 4 attributed her comeback to tactical adjustments and improved serving. “She was returning unbelievably — just hitting winner after winner off my serve,” Pegula mentioned. “I had to find a way to enhance my placement a little bit better.”
Pegula dominated the remainder of the match, winning the final nine games to clinch the victory and secure a semifinal matchup against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The 11th seed continued her impressive performance in 2024 by defeating third-seeded Zheng Qinwen 6-1, 6-4. This victory marked Alexandrova’s third win in three meetings against the Chinese player, along with her third semifinal appearance of the season. She faced no break points and converted three of five against Zheng, who required treatment for her right arm during the first set.
In the other half of the draw, American Sofia Kenin advanced to the semifinals for the first time since Tokyo 2023, besting Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-3. The 2020 Australian Open champion will now compete against fellow American Amanda Anisimova, who continued her strong form with a 7-5, 7-6(1) victory over fourth seed Emma Navarro.
