Jessica Pegula survived a bizarre third-round match to make it to the quarter-finals of the Charleston Open on Thursday. The top-seeded American won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 against 15th seed Irina-Camelia Begu after two hours and 30 minutes of play.
After taking the lead in the match, Pegula looked to be in control over the proceedings as she built a comfortable, double-break lead of 4-0 in the second set. However, Begu didn’t fade away in the set and notched a successful comeback of her own as she won six games in a row to clinch the set and level the match.
The deciding set was a repeat of how the second set unfolded but in Pegula’s favour. The world no. 3 came from 0-4 down and won six consecutive games of her own to win the match. This is the first time the 29-year-old’s made it to the quarter-finals in Charleston.
Looking to reach her first-ever semi-finals here, Pegula will next play 12th seed Paula Badosa. The Spaniard had an easier time in her round-of-16 match against Diana Shnaider. After an hour and 22 minutes, Badosa defeated Shnaider 6-1, 6-3.
Charleston Open: Ons Jabeur plays in-form Anna Kalinskaya
Ons Jabeur won her second consecutive match for the second time this year as she defeated American Caroline Dolehide in their third-round match. Dolehide led the Tunisian by a break across both sets but the second seed eventually prevailed 6-3, 7-5.
Jabeur will take on Anna Kalinskaya in the quarters. Kalinskaya ousted sixth-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-6(5) in their clash. Meanwhile, third seed Daria Kasatkina also clinched a spot in the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over American Bernarda Pera.
Kasatkina’s next rival will be Pera’s compatriot, ninth seed Madison Keys. Keys won against eighth seed Magda Linette, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The last quarter-final at the Charleston Open will be played between fourth seed Belinda Bencic and seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Bencic came through against Shelby Rogers 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Alexandrova beat Julia Grabher 6-4, 6-2. Photo Credit: Charleston Open Twitter
