Charleston Open Highlights: Pegula vs Bencic LIVE – World No.3 Jessica Pegula advanced to her fourth semifinal of the season after defeating No.33 Paula Badosa 6-3, 7-6(6) in the quarterfinals of the Charleston Open. With Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Daria Kasatkina, and Bencic advancing, this marks the first time the Top 4 seeds have reached the Charleston semifinals in over 20 years. Follow Charleston Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Charleston Open Highlights: Jessica Pegula defeats Belinda Bencic in semifinal at Charleston Open 2023, enters fourth semifinal of WTA Tour in 2023 – Watch Highlights
💪@JLPegula keeps going further in the Lowcountry!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/YaAAZEfEyb
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 8, 2023
Seeded No.1 in Charleston, Pegula will face defending champion Belinda Bencic in Saturday’s semifinal. In the match, Pegula and Badosa traded baseline blows for seven games before the American asserted her authority. Playing the role of the aggressor, Pegula converted the only break point of the set to build a 5-3 lead and closed out the 35-minute opening set.
Pegula struck immediately to open the second set, breaking for a 1-0 lead. Pegula confidently rolled through her service games to keep Badosa at bay, but the Spaniard finally earned her first break point of the match as Pegula served for the win.
Serving for the win at 5-4, 15-0, Pegula watched two perfectly struck Badosa forehands land in to build scoreboard pressure. Badosa took her chance, digging in to win back-to-back long rallies to break for the first time and level at 5-5.
But Pegula would seal the win in a tight tiebreak. Locked at 5-5, Pegula drilled a forehand down the line to earn match point, which was swiftly saved by a Badosa forehand winner. Pegula made no mistake on her second chance, breaking open the point with a deep and heavy forehand before Badosa netted a passing attempt to close out the 1-hour and 41-minute match.
“She made me earn it in the end,” Pegula said. “The conditions started getting really tricky. I know there’s some rain coming, so I’m glad I was able to get through that, especially in straight sets.”
Charleston Open Highlights: Jessica Pegula defeats Belinda Bencic in semifinal at Charleston Open 2023, enters fourth semifinal of WTA Tour in 2023 – Watch Highlights
