CHARLESTON, S.C./WASHINGTON, April 6, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
As the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open semifinal round unfolded on Daniel Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry Saturday afternoon, under clear but windy skies, there was one very familiar face – Jessica Pegula – among three Americans who made up the final four competitors.
There was also Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, an outlier of sorts, who had gone about her business quietly but very effectively all week long – and without losing a set – to earn her semifinal berth on a surface that’s more familiar to U.S. players than Europeans, but also serves as a nice transition from the North American outdoor hard courts of Indian Wells and Miami to the red clay surfaces awaiting in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome – and, ultimately, at Roland-Garros – across the Atlantic Ocean.
The World No. 1 and top seed Pegula, who eliminated defending champion and No. 7 seed Danielle Collins on Friday, wanted nothing more than to take the next step after three straight semifinal appearances on the green clay at Credit One Stadium and be playing for the colorful, South Carolina glass-blown champion’s trophy on Sunday.
Although Alexandrova had won two of her previous meetings against Pegula, including a three-set quarterfinal tussle earlier this year in Doha, she was winless in two previous semifinals on clay and sported just a 9-15 carer win-loss record in WTA Tour semifinals. On the other side of the net, Pegula came in having won seven straight semifinals in all competitions.
define: FIGHTER @JPegula books her spot in the final after battling past Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/bGXoEimnIB
— wta (@WTA) April 5, 2025
After racing to a triple-break 5-0 lead in the opening set, in which the American No. 2 erased four break points she faced and took advantage of 11 unforced errors by the Russian, Pegula recovered from a second-set dip in her levels – surrendering 14 winners to Alexandrova while facing nine break points – and held on in a topsy-turvy third set to rally past Alexandrova, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, in two hours and 29 minutes to advance to the title match.
The victory advanced Pegula to her fourth final of the season – her second career final on clay – and to guarantee an all-American title match in Charleston on Sunday. It was Pegula’s WTA Tour-leading 24th victory of the season, moving her one past World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
While Pegula won only 53 percent of her service points, she hit 18 winners that overcame 26 unforced errors and broke Alexandrova’s serve seven times in 17 opportunities. She outpointed her opponent 106-100. Alexandrova countered with 38 winners but committed 46 unforced errors. She converted six of 21 break points against Pegula.
One tough customer pic.twitter.com/V6lHOncgo5
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 5, 2025
“It’s just relief,” Pegula said, describing the feeling of victory during her on-court interview, after moving into her third final in her last four events played. “She’s beaten me the last couple of times, and every time it’s the same. I win the first set, she wins the second, then she wins the third. I’m like ‘what do I have to do to beat this girl?’ So, it took everything today, maybe a little bit of luck, maybe a little bit of the crowd. I do think I did some stuff differently today than I had in the past. I was able to do that and trust that and luckily today it worked out.”
Later, during her post-match news conference, Pegula added: “So glad I was able to flip that script today. It was just kind of a crafty match. I mean, the conditions were really tough. It was super windy, especially on that one side, and it was a lot of uncomfortable shots, footwork, just awkward kind of situations. So, it was hard to kind of balance yourself with playing aggressive but also playing with some margin with the wind.”
Kenin advances after Anisimova retires with injured hip
Meanwhile, the other semifinal pitted resurgent Americans Sofia Kenin and Amanda Anisimova, both enjoying an outstanding week in Charleston. Kenin has worked tirelessly to find the spark in her game that saw rise to World No. 4 after she won the 2020 Australian Open and reached the French Open final the same year. Appearing in her first semifinal, Kenin has shown confidence in her game and taken advantage of her opportunities. Anisimova, at a career-high ranking of No. 16, won all three of her previous matches in straight sets – same for Kenin.
As it happened, Anisimova was forced to retire just seven games into the match, with Kenin leading 5-2, after suffering a right hip injury. Kenin had broken Anisimova’s serve three times in four tries and was ahead on points 27-19.
Such an unfortunate ending
Kenin progresses to the final after Anisimova is forced to retire through injury.#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/gEWD9BJ4Oh
— wta (@WTA) April 5, 2025
“I’m feeling very good with the level that I’ve played throughout this week. It’s unfortunate that Amanda had to retire, but I wish her a speedy recovery, because she’s had a great year. And yeah, I just wish her the best,” Kenin said during her post-match news conference.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final, Pegula has played Kenin five times and leads their head-to-head series 3-2. Pegula won their last meeting, in the second round of the 2024 US Open.
“I’m just going to play my game, do what I’m doing this past week, this past year, and we’ll see what happens [Sunday],” Kenin said. “It’s a great opportunity and definitely looking forward to it.”
A first Charleston final awaits @SofiaKenin is through to the finals after Anisimova is forced to retire in the first set.#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/4y6wmDQDEt
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 5, 2025
Top seeds Ostapenko and Routliffe advance to doubles final
Top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand were pushed to a match tie-break against Americans Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally in their doubles semifinal Saturday afternoon. At the conclusion of the one-hour, 37-minute skirmish on Credit One Stadium, it was the ad-hoc Latvian/Kiwi duo who prevailed with a 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 victory to advance to Sunday’s final.
Ostapenko and Routliffe, playing in their first tournament together this week, combined to hit 29 winners to 21 unforced errors, converted three of four break points and outpointed Baptiste and McNally 67-56.
Always having fun out there pic.twitter.com/mh1Hr52V47
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 5, 2025
“It’s really amazing,” Ostapenko said during an on-court interview, reacting to what it means to be advancing to play in the doubles final. “I’ve been here one time in the singles final. It’s great to be [playing] in the doubles final. Every match, Erin and I get better and better. We’ve gotten used to playing with each other. I think it was a really good match.”
Routliffe added: “It was a great match. I knew we were going to have to bring our best against them. They’re two amazing players. I think the difference was we were a little more aggressive and we were trying to enjoy it, smiling a little bit.”
Next, Ostapenko and Routliffe will play No. 3 seeds Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk of the United States, who advanced to the title match with a 1-6, 6-4, 10-7 victory over Diana Shnaider of Russia and Peyton Stearns of the United States Friday evening. Krawczyk, 31, won the 2023 Charleston doubles title with Danielle Collins.
Around the Credit One Charleston Open
On Saturday, the staff at the Credit One Charleston Open wore “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” t-shirts to celebrate women’s professional tennis and the tournament’s impact on the sport. As North America’s largest women’s-only tennis tournament, the Credit One Charleston Open has broken attendance records year after year, drawing more than 90,000 fans annually and 26 million television viewers.
A simply glorious sight #CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/dxJ0NQK64t
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 5, 2025
The tournament continues to lead tennis into the next generation of WTA stars and it was the first women’s event to offer $100,000 in prize money in 1973 and the first women’s tennis tournament to be broadcast live on U.S. network television.
“We’re not just making a statement; we’re paving the way in elevating women’s tennis,” tournament organizers, led by tournament director Bob Moran have said.
The Credit One Charleston Open is excited to partner with TOGETHXR, a platform created by world-class athletes Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel and Chloe Kim, dedicated to promoting women in sports. Together, the tournament is working to help bring more visibility, equality and support to female athletes.
Saturday’s Charleston Open results
Sunday’s Charleston Open order of play
By the numbers
Sofia Kenin of the United States was playing in just her second WTA Tour-level semifinal on clay. Her first semifinal came five years ago at the French Open in 2020, which she won. However, Kenin went on to lose the title match to Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 6-1.
“Quotable …”
“Of course, it would be amazing. I’m obviously going to do the best I can to get the title. I got here and just going to go for it. But regardless of what happens, I’m really happy with this week and very positive – take every positive thing that I’ve done here. And I think clay season is going to be a good swing. Very excited for it, to be honest.”
– Unseeded Sofia Kenin of the United States, during her post-match news conference Saturday on what it would mean to win the Credit One Charleston Open title.
