Pegula defeats Jovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the Charleston Open final
In an All-American semifinal, the tournament veteran faced the teenage phenom. Jessica Pegula, the reigning champion and top seed, faced the future of the game in eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic.
The junior from California has reached a career high of #16 in just her second season on the tour. In her tournament debut, she reached her first clay court tournament semifinal without dropping a set.
Pegula, however, had gone the distance every round. This was their second meeting, having played earlier this season in Dubai, where Pegula won in straight sets en route to the title. Jovic won the forehand and elected to serve. She did 3/4 he first serves and is held in love, while Pegula is lost 4/5 first serves and broke.
Jovic faced seven deuces and seven break points before earning her first match point with a brilliant backhand down the line. While serving a double fault and facing another point, she managed to consolidate the break when Pegula served two faults in a row.
Photo: AFP
The defending champion opened the fourth with two straight forehand winners and held on to love to climb the board. Jovic always looked to intervene, served up another double fault and dropped serve with two consecutive forehand faults.
Pegula served her first double fault and faced a double break point and deuce, but held for 3-3 when Jovic missed out with the backhand. The teenager faced a double break point and deuce but held 4-3 with a fantastic cross-field forehead. Pegula serving with new balls opened with a double fault and faced four deuces and a break point before holding for 4-4 with an incredible inside-out front.
Jovic received a timely warning on the opening point and, with three more errors, dropped serve. The pegula serving as a set was lost 3/6 first serve, but secured it thanks to three consecutive errors by her opponent.
Jovic served first in the second set and, with two straight forehand swing volley winners, easily held 15while Pegula opened with two straight winners and held it at love level.
the world #16 DONE 5/5 first serve, hit three winners in a row and easily held 15 ABOUT 2-1while Pegula did 5/5 serves first, hit a winner and held 15 to level.
Jovic did 3/4 first served and cherished for 3-2 while the top seed dropped four straight first serves and served up two more errors before holding on to level. Jovic serves with new balls that are easy to handle 15 while Pegula was held in love with 4-4.
Jovic hit three straight winners, including an ace off the tee to hold at love as the world #5 serve to stay in the group, held for it 30 for equality. Jovic opened the eleventh with a colossal forehand down the line and closed it with a powerful backhand.
Serving to hold the set and force the break, Pegula opened with three straight faults, including a third double fault, and conceded it when Jovic hit an inside shot.
Jovic served first in the third and held 30 as Pegula’s frustration level increased along with unforced errors. Despite hitting her first ace, she gave away six additional errors and dropped serve. Jovic served his second double fault, found himself at 0-40 and got the break back.
Pegula, serving new balls, continued to hit errors and faced three deuces and a break point, but held on with an assist from three consecutive first serves. Jovic dropped three straight first serves, faced three deuces, four break points and dropped serve with a return of the net.
Pegula hit two straight winners and easily held on to consolidate the break for 4-2. Jovic opened the seventh with another backhand error, but held it easily 15 ABOUT 3-4 while the world #5 DONE 4/5 first it is easy to serve and maintain 15 to lead 5-3.
The teenager serving to stay in the match opened with two incredible winners but soon faced three deuces and three match points before conceding with another bad shot. Despite the loss, it was a brave performance from the young American. She competed well and with poise under pressure.
Pegula had to play three tough sets to overcome a worthy opponent and reach the final. She escaped 8/11 breakpoints but converted only 5/19. While she served well enough, she will need to drastically reduce the number of unforced errors if she hopes to defend her title.
During the press conference, I asked Pegula if it was a strategic decision to alternate between extended rallies to draw fouls and pull it back since her passing shots were on point. She answered: “I think a little. I think my game definitely likes to draw mistakes from my opponents. I think sometimes I can hit too hard and in the middle. And sometimes, even though it might not seem like an amazing strategy to some people, but I think the way I hit the ball, it definitely forces someone who is very good. She is really good in that sometimes she can have space to leave things and force you to think something and take time. they’re not necessarily happy with it, then that can be a very good strategy, and that’s something I use against a lot of players.”
In the championship match, she will face an unknown opponent in the world #89Julia Starodubtseva. The twenty-six-year-old Ukrainian, in his tournament debut, stunned the former world #5 AND 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys in straight sets to reach her first tournament final.
This will be their first meeting with a trophy and 500 line ranking points.
