Pegula Sensationally Comes Back After Losing Enormous Lead In Charleston

| by Sebastian Dahlman

Jessica Pegula will be playing the 2023 Charleston Open quarterfinals after winning a roller-coaster match.

In her first match, the world no. 3 played sensational tennis, beating her opponent 6-2, 6-0. After the win, Pegula talked about her chances of doing well on clay, and she was really optimistic about playing in Charleston. In the third round of the tournament, the American took on Irina-Camelia Begu from Romania, who beat another American, Sofia Kenin in the previous round.

The two met three times before and the Romanian triumphed in the first two meetings. However, in their last match, which was also the only match played on clay, Pegula won in three sets and she wanted to follow up on that win in Charleston.

And she started well in the first set. Despite losing a one-break lead, the American stayed focused and broke her opponent's serve once more to win the first set 7-5.

2023 Charleston Open WTA Prize Money & Points Overview - $780,637
2023 Charleston Open WTA Prize Money & Points Overview - $780,637

Everything was going well for Pegula also in the second set. After two quick breaks, the American led 4-0, a lead that couldn't be much bigger. Fans at the Credit One Stadium were already checking who will be playing next, but Begu shifted their focus back to the match in a span of a few minutes.

The Romanian broke back not once, but twice, and she even added the third break to turn the second set around and win it 6-4 to force a decider.

Begu continued in a dominant performance also in the third set, building a similar lead to Pegula's in the second set. The Romanian led 4-0 after she won ten consecutive games.

Pegula was visibly frustrated and couldn't hit shots into the court, but the crowd was still supporting her and she needed it. The world no. 3 won twelve of the following 14 rallies and got both of the breaks back.

The home crowd favourite didn't stop her charge and equaled the score at four games all after a hold of serve. Moreover, she added yet another break to complete a sensational come back and do exactly what her opponent did in the second set, come back from 0-4 down.

After three great sets of tennis, Pegula won the match 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the 2023 Charleston Open quarterfinals. Up next, she will play against the 12th-seeded Paula Badosa from Spain.

Gauff & Pegula Call For More Trash Talk In Tennis
Gauff & Pegula Call For More Trash Talk In Tennis

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