Pegula survives Alexandrova for maiden Charleston Open remaining
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 within the Credit score One Charleston Open remaining. Neither had progressed to the ultimate on the WTA 500 clay courtroom occasion.
This was the American’s third consecutive semi in Charleston (2023 l. Bencic & 2024 l. Kasatkina). Pegula ranked 4th on this planet defeated Alexandrova of their lone clay courtroom encounter in Rome 2021.
Alexandrova contemporary off a straight units defeat within the quarters of world #8 and reigning Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, was into her second semifinal having reached the penultimate spherical in 2022 (l. Bencic). The world #26 led the head-to-head 2-1, each three-setters and on hardcourt.
Alexandrova gained the toss and elected to serve. Beneath sunny skies and breezy circumstances, the 9th seed confronted a double break level and dropped serve whereas Pegula confronted two deuce and two break factors but held to consolidate the break.
Alexandrova continued to crush forehands however a double fault and mishit slice backhand value her the sport. Pegula missed three consecutive first serves and confronted three deuce and two break factors earlier than consolidating the break for 4-0.
Photograph by Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos
Alexandrova ripped a forehand down the road and led 30-15 however dumped serve with a mishit crosscourt forehand and one other double fault. Pegula served for the set however confronted a triple break level and gave again the break following 4 consecutive unforced errors.
Alexandrova opened the seventh with two excellent 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 within the second and with two consecutive aces, held to 15 and Pegula returned the favor, holding to 15 to degree with an ace up the tee. Alexandrova pummeled a crosscourt forehand however along with her third double fault confronted deuce and break level but held following two missed returns from Pegula.
The 1st seed confronted break level and deuce however held with two winners one off both sides. Alexandrova missed 4/6 first serves however with three spectacular forehand winners, held to 30 for 3-2. Pegula missed three consecutive first serves, confronted a triple break level, and two extra earlier than dumping serve with an errant forehand.
The 9th seed donated her fourth double fault however with two further aces out broad, held to 30 to consolidate the break. The American serving to remain within the set gifted two extra forehand errors, confronted triple set level and conceded it when Alexandrova blasted a forehand down the line.
The Russian served first within the third and whereas she struck two terrific forehand winners, dropped serve along with her fifth double fault. Pegula made 5/8 first serves however gave again the break with a slew of errors.
Alexandrova missed six consecutive first serves, 9 in whole together with one other double fault, and confronted 4 deuce and two break factors but held! Pegula gifted 4 unforced errors together with her first double fault and dumped serve.
Alexandrova confronted break level following an errant forehand and gave again the break when she overcooked a forehand swing volley. Pegula confronted a triple break level and dropped serve following a unprecedented forehand down the road from Alexandrova.
The Russian confronted a triple break level, hit her fifth ace, and gave again the break along with her seventh double fault. The American donated her second double fault however held to 30 to degree at 4 with a candy forehand drop shot winner.
Alexandrova confronted two deuce and break level however held for 5-4 with 4 exceptional winners together with an inside-in forehand on recreation level. Pegula serving to remain within the match and with new balls made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 to degree.
Alexandrova struck her seventh ace along with 4 great groundstroke winners however dropped serve following three consecutive unforced errors. Pegula served for the match and a spot within the remaining. She reached double match level and transformed the second with a blistering backhand down the line.
It was a high-stakes match full of winners, climate, errors, and dramatic momentum shifts. The American’s evaluation spoke to the tenor of the match: “It was simply form of a artful match right this moment. I imply, the circumstances have been actually robust. It was tremendous windy, particularly on that one aspect, and it was loads of uncomfortable photographs, footwork, simply awkward form of conditions.”
Pegula might want to serve significantly higher on Sunday afternoon to safe the trophy. She gained 56% of first and 45% of second serve factors however was more practical when returning profitable 47% of first and 55% of second serve return factors. She saved an astounding 15/21 break factors whereas changing 7/17.
Her remaining opponent is fellow American Sofia Kenin who reached the ultimate after Amanda Anisimova retired with an injured again trailing 2-5 within the first set. Pegula leads the head-to-head 3-2 together with their most up-to-date match in straights on the 2024 US Open.
