Jessica Pegula Wins Second Charleston Title

Jessica Pegula secured her second consecutive Credit One Charleston Open title on April 5, 2026, defeating first-time finalist Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets. The top seed won the match 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 22 minutes, marking her second title of the 2026 season.

The victory establishes Pegula as the first woman to win back-to-back titles in Charleston since Serena Williams accomplished the feat in 2013. With this win, Pegula has extended her winning streak in Charleston to 10 consecutive matches.

A Grueling Path to the Final

The championship victory followed a physically demanding week for the world number five, who spent a total of 11 hours and 22 minutes on the court. Pegula’s journey to the final was characterized by a series of endurance tests, including four consecutive three-set matches.

Her campaign began with a marathon opening match against Yulia Putintseva, which lasted three hours and 10 minutes. Pegula continued to face adversity throughout the tournament, coming from a set down in each of her first three matches to advance.

In addition to the win over Putintseva, Pegula recorded victories over Iva Jovic, Diana Shnaider and Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Despite the physical toll of the preceding rounds, Pegula produced what analysts described as her most clinical tennis of the week during the final.

Final Match Analysis

During the final on April 5, 2026, Pegula maintained control of the match while successfully defending key moments, saving seven of eight break points to secure the win. Her opponent, the unseeded Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva, struggled to find consistency against the top seed, committing 41 unforced errors during the contest.

Despite the loss, the tournament run provided a significant boost to Starodubtseva’s professional standing. The Ukrainian climbed 36 places in the rankings to reach a career-high position of 53.

Thank you to the fans who’ve supported me throughout this whole week. There were many three-set matches. It’s been such a long week for me, and you guys brought me through so many matches every single day. So thank you so much. I love playing here.

Jessica Pegula

Season and Career Milestones

The Charleston title is Pegula’s 11th singles title of her career and her second trophy of 2026, following a WTA 1000 victory in Dubai in February. The win brings her career record in WTA singles finals to 11-11.

Pegula’s consistent performance throughout the early part of the year has placed her at the top of the leaderboard for WTA wins in 2026. With 24 victories this season, she has moved ahead of world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz win standings.

The victory in South Carolina underscores Pegula’s resilience during the 2026 clay-court season, as she managed to navigate a high volume of hours on court and multiple three-set battles to defend her title.