Top seed Jessica Pegula secured victory over surprise finalist Yuliia Starodubtseva from Ukraine with a 6-2, 6-2 win, making her the first player since Serena Williams in 2012-13 to defend the Charleston Open title on Daniel Island. This triumph marks Pegula’s second title of 2026, following her WTA 1000 win in Dubai in February, and her 11th singles title overall. She currently holds an 11-11 record in WTA singles finals and leads the WTA Tour with 24 wins this season.
Reflecting on her journey, Pegula expressed, “It was definitely a tough path last year and this year. I think sometimes when you win a tournament, you kind of romanticize it, like it was so easy. It’s usually not. There are usually some days when it’s really hard. I think I shifted my mindset coming back and defending.” Pegula now joins a prestigious group of women, including Williams, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Tracy Austin, who have clinched this title multiple times.
Despite briefly trailing on serve at 2-1, Pegula dominated by claiming five consecutive games to secure the first set in just over half an hour. The turning point arrived at 2-2 in the match when a Starodubtseva forehand error provided Pegula with an opportunity, leading to a crucial break that shifted the momentum in her favor. Pegula then established a commanding 5-0 lead in the second set, eventually closing out the match after a brief challenge from Starodubtseva.
In her first tour-level final appearance, Starodubtseva, who entered the main draw due to Amanda Anisimova’s withdrawal, showcased a commendable performance. The 26-year-old is poised for a significant ranking rise, projected to reach a career-high No. 53 from her previous best of No. 63.
