Perseverance defines the final match at the Credit One Charleston Open this Sunday.
Jessica Pegula, the No. 1 seed, has reached her first Charleston final after semifinal losses in the previous two years. Her path to the final required immense effort, culminating in a victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, a match lasting over two hours with 13 service breaks. Pegula successfully defended 15 out of 21 break points against her.
Pegula commented on her performance, stating, “I’ve always felt I’ve played well here and achieved good results. But I told myself in Miami that I really want to aim for the title this year. And I believe I can achieve it.”
Determination. Diligence. Tenacity.
Sofia Kenin, once the 2020 Australian Open champion and world No. 4, is on a path to resurgence. After a significant drop in rankings, reaching No. 235 by the end of 2022, Kenin has been steadily rebuilding her form.
Kenin advanced to the final after Amanda Anisimova retired due to injury in their semifinal match. A victory against Pegula would mark her first title in five years and propel her back into the Top 25 rankings.
This Charleston final marks the first All-American showdown since 1990 when Martina Navratilova defeated Jennifer Capriati.
Kenin expressed her anticipation, “It’s wonderful that one of us will take home the trophy – and I hope it will be me.”
Let`s examine the case for each finalist.
Advantage, Pegula
Professional tennis demands constant adaptation – to opponents, conditions, and global travel. Pegula’s seamless transition this past week exemplifies this.
Just last Saturday, she competed in the Miami Open final against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on the fast hard courts of Hard Rock Stadium. Despite a straight-sets loss, Pegula had no time to dwell on defeat. While Sabalenka looked forward to relaxing in Miami, Pegula arrived as the top seed at the Credit One Charleston Open, with qualifying rounds already underway.
By Wednesday, having practiced on the slower green clay for just a few days, Pegula commenced her tournament run with a dominant second-round victory over qualifier Iryna Shymanovich. She conceded only three games, displaying an immediate comfort on the surface.
Now, Pegula is set to play her second final in eight days – and her third this season.
Pegula leads the WTA Tour this year with 24 match wins. Her semifinal win against Alexandrova was her eighth consecutive in semifinals. The key challenge remains taking the final step to secure the title. Overcoming the semifinal hurdle in Charleston might be the catalyst she needs.
Pegula holds a narrow 3-2 head-to-head advantage over Kenin. She won their last encounter at the US Open en route to the final, but Kenin triumphed on Roland Garros` red clay four years prior.
Pegula notes similarities between Alexandrova and Kenin’s playing styles.
“They both favor taking the ball early, changing directions,” Pegula explained. “Strong backhands, excellent returners. Yes, I anticipate another tough match, quite similar to today’s. I’ll need to dig deep and hopefully apply the lessons learned today to tomorrow’s final.”
A significant incentive awaits Pegula: a victory on Sunday would elevate her to No. 3 in the WTA rankings, surpassing fellow American Coco Gauff. This would equal her career-high ranking and provide a major confidence boost heading into the European clay-court season.
Advantage, Kenin
Kenin entered the quarterfinals as the only unseeded player, playing with less pressure. Pegula, as the top seed, will bear the weight of expectation.
Kenin`s Charleston history included only two wins in six prior appearances. Ranked No. 44, she quickly matched that, securing straight-set wins against Bernarda Pera and Belinda Bencic. Kenin then upset No. 5 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 7-6(7), with a thrilling tiebreak victory potentially serving as a turning point. She reached the semifinals with another straight-sets victory over No. 14 Anna Kalinskaya.
The last time Kenin achieved four consecutive match wins was last fall in Tokyo, where she reached the final, also defeating Kasatkina.
Don’t disregard Kenin’s past victory over Pegula at Roland Garros. Kenin rallied to win their third-round match 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Her angled game is well-suited to clay, while Pegula’s flatter shots are more effective on faster hard courts.
“Jess is a machine,” Kenin acknowledged. “She can consistently perform week after week. I admire her greatly. I hope she might be slightly off her game tomorrow so I can have a chance to win.”
“I’m expecting a battle. I anticipate she will be fully recovered and at 100 percent.”
Kenin has made remarkable progress in a short time. Just in February, ranked No. 75, she had to qualify for the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi and subsequently lost in the first round.
Now, she stands on the verge of a significant personal achievement.
“The way I’m playing now, my mindset has shifted,” Kenin shared. “I’m not facing Jess with the thought, ‘Oh my God, can I even win a few games?’ I’m going into this match with the intention of winning.”
