Pegula Defends Charleston Open Title 6-2, 6-2

Jessica Pegula claimed her second WTA title of the 2026 season by defending her Charleston Open crown on Sunday, defeating unseeded Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2 in the final at the Credit One Stadium in Daniel Island, South Carolina. The world number five from the United States showcased tactical precision in the straight-sets victory, committing zero double faults and converting five of six break-point opportunities while limiting Starodubtseva to just 36 percent of second-serve points won.

Pegula's path to the title was far more demanding than the final suggested. As the top seed, she endured four consecutive three-set matches in the earlier rounds, spending a total of 11 hours and 22 minutes on court over the week. She overcame Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round, Elisabetta Cocciaretto 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 in the third, Diana Shnaider 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, and fellow American Iva Jovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the semifinals. The effort left her physically drained, as she described afterward: "My body actually feels pretty good, but I just feel very drained. I feel like someone kind of like sucked the life out of me."