In another three-setter, Pegula emerges victorious in All-American Charleston semifinal Jessica Pegula’s journey to the Charleston final continued with a hard-fought three-set victory over Iva Jovic on Saturday, marking her second consecutive appearance in the tournament’s final. The match, which lasted 2 hours and 35 minutes, saw Pegula prevail 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, extending her streak of four straight three-set wins in the event. The result solidified her position as a formidable contender for the title, setting up a showdown against Yulia Starodubtseva, the first-time WTA finalist. Pegula’s path to the final was defined by resilience and tactical adjustments. Entering the semifinal, she had already navigated three three-set matches, each requiring her to push through adversity. Against Jovic, the challenge began swiftly. The Serbian player broke serve at her first opportunity to take an early 2-0 lead, capitalizing on a dominant start that saw her win nine of the first 10 points. Jovic’s momentum continued in the third game, where a prolonged service game stretched over 17 minutes and featured seven break points for Pegula. Despite multiple chances, Jovic saved all of them, ultimately securing the break for a 3-0 lead. However, Pegula’s determination began to shift the momentum. She held at love in the next game to narrow the gap to 3-1, then embarked on a three-game run to level the set at 3-3. After Jovic held for 4-3, Pegula faced a break point in a three-deuce game but held firm, setting the stage for a pivotal first-set victory. The set, which lasted 61 minutes, marked a turning point in the match. The second set proved more straightforward, with neither player converting on break points.#jessica_pegula #coco_gauff #iva_jovic #charleston_open #yulia_starodubtseva
