Pegula progresses to Charleston Open semis as Collins collapses

Pegula conquers Collins in quarters 1-6, 6-3, 6-0

In an all-American encounter on Credit One Stadium, Danielle Collins took center stage as the defending champion and 7th seed. Jessica Pegula, though seeded first and ranked 4th, had never been a finalist having reached the penultimate round the past two years. While Collins achieved a career-high rank of #7 last season following back-to-back wins in Miami and Charleston, she is currently ranked #22.

Heading into this quarterfinal, Pegula from Buffalo, NY, led the head-to-head 3-0. While Collins won two titles on the dirt (Palermo 2021 & Charleston 2024), Pegula is still searching for her first.

Collins from St. Petersburg, Florida, won the toss and chose to serve. She opened with a crosscourt forehand winner and held to love while Pegula faced 0-30 but held to level. Collins struck three winners including her first ace and though she faced deuce, held for 2-1.

Despite making 5/6 first serves, Pegula faced a break point and dumped serve following two consecutive forehand return winners from the defending champion. Collins missed 3/6 first serves but held to 30 to consolidate the break.

Credit: AFP

Pegula gifted her first double fault and another break following another forehand return winner from Collins. The 7th seed served for the set, and though she opened with a double fault, she hit two consecutive winners to secure it 6-1.

Pegula served first in the second, faced double break point, and dropped serve following a barrage of winners from her opponent. Collins with an aggressive mindset and court position continued to pummel the ball off both wings. Although she missed 4/6 first serves, she held to 30 to consolidate the break for 2-0.

Pegula maintained her poise despite trailing by a set and a break. The 2025 US Open finalist remained vigilant as she held to 30 to get on the board.

Collins struck her second ace and though she hit two spectacular backhand winners, faced four deuce and two break points before dropping serve with her second double fault. It was a stunning drop in form as she lost focus and racked up the unforced errors.

Pegula pounced and consolidated the break with an overhead winner and missed return from Collins. The world #22 appeared to regroup as she hit three consecutive winners and held at love to level at three. Pegula utilizing the slice backhand to great effect, made 4/5 first serves and held to 15 for 4-3.

As the grunting increased, so did the errors. Collins donated six unforced errors including another double fault and netted a forehand to dump serve. Pegula serving for the set made 3/5 first serves and clinched it 6-3 when Collins netted a backhand.

Collins served first in the decider and a full-blown meltdown ensued. She committed four unforced errors including her fourth double fault and dropped her serve with a mishit backhand.

Pegula the 2025 AXT Open champion maintained her composure as she held easily to consolidate the break. The crowd appeared stunned as Collins continued to spiral. She donated two additional double faults, faced three break points, and dropped serve with another mishit backhand.  

Pegula made 4/6 first serves and held to 30 consolidating the break for 4-0. Collins could not buy a first serve and after her seventh double fault, faced four break points and dumped serve with another netted backhand.

Pegula reached triple match point following a terrific crosscourt forehand and secured victory when Collins whiffed the forehand return. It was an inexplicable ending given her level of play throughout the first nine games.

Collins elaborated during her press conference: “I think I just got into my own head about stuff and just didn’t – wasn’t  - yeah, wasn’t in a positive mindset today, and it cost me the match.” Unable to defend her title, she will drop out of the top thirty when the new rankings are released on Monday.

Asked in her press conference about her ability to combat Collins’ exceedingly high level at the start of the match, Pegula reflected, “ Doesn’t always happen, but was able to figure it out just kind of in the nick of time. I mean, yeah, I think just with a lot of matches that I’ve played and coming in really match tough, that always helps your confidence in that you can kind of turn a match and figure it out, and it happened to work today.”

Pegula will aim to level the head-to-head with her semifinal opponent. She will battle the ninth seed and 2025 Linz champion Ekaterina Alexandrova for a place in the final. Currently ranked #26, Alexandrova reached a career-high rank of #15 last April and leads Pegula 2-1 in the head-to-head including a three-set win this past February in Doha.