Pegula Dethrones Collins, Back in Charleston Semis

DOWN SET AND BREAK, TOP SEED STORMS BACK TO ADVANCE

Danielle Collins’ hopes for a second straight Credit One Charleston Open title were dashed on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals on Daniel Island, where the defending champion fell to top seed and fellow 31-year-old American Jessica Pegula, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Pegula improved to a perfect 6-0 against Collins, and returns to the semifinals here for the third consecutive year. It marked her tour-leading 23rd singles victory on the year, a number equaled only by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Collins came out firing, playing some of the cleanest first-strike tennis we’ve seen from her since this time last year, when she doubled up on titles in Miami and Charleston. She consistently went for lines, especially off the backhand wing, and struck the ball with authority. But maintaining that kind of high-risk/high-reward level over multiple sets can be a real challenge against an opponent like Pegula, a finalist last year at the US Open. Down a set and a break, the top seed soon began to work her way back into the match.

“That was really tough,” said Pegula. “Obviously, she can play well here. She’s the defending champion. She came out firing, and I was just not ready for that at all. Luckily, I was somehow able to dig my heels into that second set.”

“I think I’m just such a perfectionist, and I think after the first set I just kind of thought she wasn’t playing that well and I kind of got lucky,” said Collins, who was noncommittal when asked about the upcoming European clay swing. “Then in the second set, I just didn’t get through those challenging moments and just started questioning what I was doing. I think I just got into my own head about stuff and just wasn’t in a positive mindset today, and it cost me the match.”

Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Next up for Pegula is ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who scored a 6-1, 6-4 upset of third seed Zheng Qinwen of China. Zheng appeared to be compromised by a right arm complaint throughout the one-hour, 24-minute match, during which she took a pair of medical timeouts. Alexandrova says she didn’t let that distract her from the business at hand.

“You just try not to think about it,” said Alexandrova, who is into the semis here for the first time since 2022. “She’s playing, so it’s just like a regular match. Nothing is happening. It’s very dangerous to think that something is happening on the other side.”

“It was a difficult match, even if the score doesn’t say it, especially the first set,” she added. “She’s a really good player and a really good server, so I was trying to use every opportunity on the return that I had.”

In all, there were five Americans in the Charleston quarterfinals – the most through to the that stage since 1982. Thanks to Sofia Kenin’s 6-4, 6-3 dismissal of 14th seed Anna Kalinskaya on Friday, there will be three in the semifinal round for the first time since 2003.

Kenin, the Australian Open champ in 2020, the same year she reached a career-high No. 4 in the PIF WTA Rankings, has now taken out three seeds in Kalinskaya, Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina, the latter two former Credit One Charleston Open champions.

“I’m really happy with the level, and I feel like these matches give me a lot of confidence,” said Kenin, who also reached the quarterfinals in doubles. “I’m very happy with how everything has started on the clay for me. It’s just another great opportunity tomorrow. I have the momentum. I’m very confident for tomorrow.”

Kenin’s next challenge comes in the form of countrywoman Amanda Anisimova, who dispatched local favorite Emma Navarro in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6(1) in just under the two-hour mark. It was a nervy match that featured six straight service breaks in the second set alone, but Anisimova managed to stay in control in the telltale tiebreak.

“Emma’s an amazing competitor, amazing player. I wish this was a final,” said Anisimova. “I feel so bad that we had to play each other this early on. She’s been playing great tennis. It’s never easy to play her. It wasn’t easy, but I tried to stop being so negative and just focus on every point. I’m happy with the way I was able to play.”

Kenin and Anisimova have faced each other just once before, with Kenin claiming their San Diego semifinal in 2023, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

Sofia Kenin (right) defeated Anna Kalinskaya.