Pegula takes down Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2 to claim the Charleston Open championship
Jessica Pegula of Buffalo, NYwas the top seed and defending champion at the Credit One Charleston Open, a WTA 500 clay court event. World #5 he went a long way in every round, challenging his stamina and endurance.
Yuliia Starodubtseva, at the beginning of the tournament, dropped one set on her way to the final and in the previous round, she sent the former world #5 again 2019 Charleston Open champion, Madison Keys. Twenty-six-year-old from Ukraine, currently ranked #89he was competing in the finals of his first tour and facing Pegula for the first time.
The American won the toss and chose to accept. Starodbutseva opened with a backhand drop shot and an ace off the tee and held on 30 while Pegula hit two straight winners and held on 15 level.
Starodbutseva missed 3/5 He first serves but is easily caught 15and the defending champion responded in kind, holding on 15 with a good crosscourt backhand. The Ukrainian opened the fifth with two groundstroke winners in a row but was thrown into service by three errors on a deep return.
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Pegula missed 4/5 He first serves but is easily caught 15 to combine break for 4-2. Starodbutseva opened the seventh with a monster serve off the tee, but dropped serve following three consecutive unforced errors. World #5 serving with new balls hit two aces and closed out the set when his opponent hit a forehand.
Starodbutseva served first for the second time, and although he did 5/6 the first serve, he was broken following three consecutive backhand mistakes. Pegula struggled in her first service game, facing two deuces and two break points before consolidating the break. 2-0.
The Ukrainian missed three consecutive first serves, including a double fault and went down to serve with a mishit forehand. Pegula playing with poise and purpose caught in love with the front bubbling down the line to strengthen the break 4-0.
Starodbutseva missed 3/5 He first serves and is dropped following another forehand error and a forehand winner from his opponent. Pegula worked for the championship with the lead.
When he reached the point of the game 40-30 and he created two more, failing to convert as his opponent increased his anger. Starodbutseva earned four break points and was converted when the top seed cooked a backhand. Starodbutseva missed the first four games in a row, but with three impressive wins, including a line drive, she sealed the break. 2-5.
Pegula worked the match again and this time got the win. He opened with a forehand crosscourt winner and converted his fourth match point when his opponent missed the set.
During her last press conference, I asked what was the biggest challenge Starodubtseva had posed and how it was overcome. He answered, “Yes. I think he really wants to say about his forehand. I think I should have attacked his second position and put the risk there, especially in the mud. I think he likes to stop his forehand with his serve. So I wanted to eliminate that pattern as much as I could. And, actually, yes, I thought I played very smart. I was not afraid to move, but I didn’t want to move with his hand, and I didn’t want to hit him. put him in the corners and make him maybe ate a lot.”
It was the dominant sport from America, which has passed the world #1 Aryna Sabalenka in the match wins this season with twenty-four. Pegula, with his second title of the season (Dubai), heads to Europe with a clay court title and a lot of confidence as he crosses the road to Roland Garros.
