Jessica Pegula delivered an impressive comeback in the second set to defeat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 7-5, earning her first clay-court title at the Charleston Open. This victory marked the first all-American final at this tournament since 1990. From the start, the 31-year-old Pegula set the pace, breaking Kenin’s serve right out of the gate and taking the first set.
Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion at 26 years old, wasn’t going down without a fight. She rallied in the second set, surging to a 5-1 lead and appeared to be pushing the match towards a decisive third set. However, Pegula, the tournament’s top seed, had other plans. She fought off three set points and astonishingly won six consecutive games, clinching the match against an opponent ranked 40 spots below her globally.
This victory comes fresh off Pegula’s loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open final last week. It marks her eighth career title and her second title of the year, following a win in Austin last month. “Winning here this week after two intense weeks in Miami feels amazing,” Pegula shared, excited about her climb to number three in the rankings.
In a chat with the Tennis Channel, Pegula admitted to feeling fatigue during the second set amidst challenging windy conditions. “I was just trying to hold my ground and prepare for a potential third set, which is never fun, but somehow, I managed to break her twice,” she admitted, reflecting on her performance.
Adding to the week’s American successes, Jenson Brooksby celebrated his first ATP title at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. The 24-year-old, who entered the competition as a qualifying wild card, surprised many by defeating second seed and 2023 champion Frances Tiafoe with a score of 6-4, 6-2.
Ranked 507th on the ATP list, far below Tiafoe’s 17th, Brooksby has rejoined the tour after a 13-month hiatus due to missing three doping test locations in a year. His career-high ranking was 33rd, and he was acknowledged as the ATP Newcomer of the Year in 2021.
