Pegula survives Alexandrova for maiden Charleston Open final

Pegula outlasts Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

Jessica Pegula from Buffalo, NY, and the #1 seed battled Ekaterina Alexandrova from Chelyabinsk, Russia for a spot in the Credit One Charleston Open final. Neither had progressed to the final at the WTA 500 clay court event.

This was the American’s third consecutive semi in Charleston (2023 l. Bencic & 2024 l. Kasatkina). Pegula ranked 4th in the world defeated Alexandrova in their lone clay court encounter in Rome 2021.

Alexandrova fresh off a straight sets defeat in the quarters of world #8 and reigning Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, was into her second semifinal having reached the penultimate round in 2022 (l. Bencic). The world #26 led the head-to-head 2-1, both three-setters and on hardcourt.

Alexandrova won the toss and elected to serve. Under sunny skies and breezy conditions, the 9th seed faced a double break point and dropped serve while Pegula faced two deuce and two break points yet held to consolidate the break.

Alexandrova continued to crush forehands but a double fault and mishit slice backhand cost her the game. Pegula missed three consecutive first serves and faced three deuce and two break points before consolidating the break for 4-0.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Alexandrova ripped a forehand down the line and led 30-15 but dumped serve with a mishit crosscourt forehand and another double fault. Pegula served for the set but faced a triple break point and gave back the break following four consecutive unforced errors.

Alexandrova opened the seventh with two outstanding backhand winners and held to 30 for 2-5. Pegula served for the set with new balls and this time clinched it when her opponent netted the return.

Alexandrova served first in the second and with two consecutive aces, held to 15 and Pegula returned the favor, holding to 15 to level with an ace up the tee. Alexandrova pummeled a crosscourt forehand but with her third double fault faced deuce and break point yet held following two missed returns from Pegula.

The 1st seed faced break point and deuce but held with two winners one off each side. Alexandrova missed 4/6 first serves but with three spectacular forehand winners, held to 30 for 3-2. Pegula missed three consecutive first serves, faced a triple break point, and two more before dumping serve with an errant forehand.

The 9th seed donated her fourth double fault but with two additional aces out wide, held to 30 to consolidate the break. The American serving to stay in the set gifted two more forehand errors, faced triple set point and conceded it when Alexandrova blasted a forehand down the line.

The Russian served first in the third and while she struck two terrific forehand winners, dropped serve with her fifth double fault. Pegula made 5/8 first serves but gave back the break with a slew of errors.

Alexandrova missed six consecutive first serves, nine in total including another double fault, and faced four deuce and two break points yet held! Pegula gifted four unforced errors including her first double fault and dumped serve.

Alexandrova faced break point following an errant forehand and gave back the break when she overcooked a forehand swing volley. Pegula faced a triple break point and dropped serve following an extraordinary forehand down the line from Alexandrova.

The Russian faced a triple break point, hit her fifth ace, and gave back the break with her seventh double fault. The American donated her second double fault but held to 30 to level at four with a sweet forehand drop shot winner.

Alexandrova faced two deuce and break point but held for 5-4 with four remarkable winners including an inside-in forehand on game point. Pegula serving to stay in the match and with new balls made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 to level.  

Alexandrova struck her seventh ace in addition to four tremendous groundstroke winners but dropped serve following three consecutive unforced errors. Pegula served for the match and a place in the final. She reached double match point and converted the second with a blistering backhand down the line.

It was a high-stakes match filled with winners, weather, errors, and dramatic momentum shifts. The American’s assessment spoke to the tenor of the match: “It was just kind of a crafty match today. I mean, the conditions were really tough. It was super windy, especially on that one side, and it was a lot of uncomfortable shots, footwork, just awkward kind of situations.”

Pegula will need to serve considerably better on Sunday afternoon to secure the trophy. She won 56% of first and 45% of second serve points but was more effective when returning winning 47% of first and 55% of second serve return points. She saved an astounding 15/21 break points while converting 7/17.

Her final opponent is fellow American Sofia Kenin who reached the final after Amanda Anisimova retired with an injured back trailing 2-5 in the first set.  Pegula leads the head-to-head 3-2 including their most recent match in straights at the 2024 US Open.