Top-seeded Jessica Pegula faced a tough challenge in the Credit One Charleston Open quarterfinals but demonstrated resilience to overcome defending champion Danielle Collins. After dropping the first set and falling behind in the second, Pegula stormed back to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-0. She won the last nine consecutive games in a match that lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Pegula`s victory extends her unblemished record against Collins to six wins in their career matchups, a streak that spans 13 years. Their rivalry began in 2012 at an ITF event qualifier, where a teenage Pegula set the tone for their encounters. In their 14 sets played, Collins has only managed to win two.
This win marks Pegula`s fourth semifinal appearance in 2025 and her third consecutive semifinal in Charleston. Having been stopped at this stage in previous years, she now aims to reach her first Charleston final. Her semifinal opponent will be either No. 3 seed Zheng Qinwen or No. 9 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Turning Point: Collins, who is considering this season a `bonus` after contemplating retirement in 2024, started aggressively, dominating Pegula in a quick 27-minute first set. She showcased exceptional play, landing 12 winners compared to Pegula`s two. Collins` shots, including drop shots and powerful returns, were highly effective. This dominant stretch continued into the second set, where she took a 2-0 lead.
However, the fourth game of the second set proved pivotal. Collins had multiple game points to extend her lead to 3-1 but couldn`t convert. Pegula seized the opportunity, breaking back and shifting the momentum of the match.
Following the crucial game, Collins began to make errors, which escalated rapidly. After being down 2-0 in the second set, Pegula claimed 12 of the next 13 games, including nine in a row to close out the match. Collins` unforced errors dramatically increased from just nine in the first set to 46 in the subsequent sets, including seven double faults.
Pegula`s Perspective: “She came out incredibly strong, and I was completely unprepared for that level,” Pegula admitted in her post-match interview. “Fortunately, I managed to regain my footing in the second set and improve my game.”
She added, “I`m not sure if I got fired up, but I felt a sense of relief when she started missing. It gave me a chance! I tried to vary my play with slices and drop shots. Recognizing her strong backhand, I focused on avoiding it. Also, improving my serve placement was key because she was returning incredibly well, hitting winners off my serves. I needed to find a way to serve smarter.”
