By Erik Gudris | Friday, April 3, 2026Photo credit score: Charleston Tennis LLC
Defending Charleston champion Jessica Pegula is counting on her humorousness to assist her attain one more semifinal on the WTA 500 occasion.
The highest-seeded Pegula managed to outlast No. 7 seed Diana Shnaider 3-6,6-3,6-2 to enter her fourth consecutive semifinal on the Credit score One Charleston Open.
Pegula, after the match, talked about counting on her humorousness in having to play one other three set match, her third of the occasion, to maintain her title protection alive.
“It’s the one factor that retains can me alive,” Pegula stated afterwards. “So I feel I used to be a bit of bit extra annoyed as we speak after the primary set, as a result of I used to be similar to significantly? I’m going to need to win in three formally now after shedding the primary set, and it’s the identical factor.
“I received all of the break factors, and I didn’t know if I used to be going to transform them and all this stuff. So it’s been a bit of little bit of a curler coaster for me. However, yeah, my humorousness retains me going, I suppose.”
Pegula earlier within the event wanted three units to take out each Yulia Putintseva and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
The back-and-forth quarterfinal tussle wasn’t actually determined till halfway via the ultimate set.
Although Shnaider held a 2-0 early lead, Pegula managed to battle her manner again. Pegula discovered a welcome surge to safe the final six video games to guide her spot within the last 4.
“Truthfully, I didn’t assume I had any extra lives left there for a bit,” Pegula stated afterwards on court docket. “I used to be getting actually annoyed, it was very gradual and moist and muggy and I felt just like the ball wasn’t going anyplace. I received actually mad at myself on the finish of the primary. I really feel prefer it’s been the identical the previous couple of matches. I’ve simply been in a position to maintain on to my serve, discover some rhythm and serve very well, after which simply discover methods to interrupt. On the finish of the third I began to step in a bit of bit higher and play extra aggressive.”
The World No. 5, Pegula, is now 9-1 in three-set matches this 12 months and 18-4 for the reason that US Open. She can be in her fourth semifinal in six occasions this season.
Pegula awaits the winner of the Iva Jovic and Anna Kalinskaya match this night.
