The world’s number four, Jessica Pegula, set up a superb second set fight while she was beating Sofia Kenin 6-3 7-5 to win her first clay title at the Charleston Open.
In what was the first American final of the tournament since 1990, Pegula, 31, initially took care of, breaking the Kenin in the opening match on the way to a shoot.
But the Champion of the Australian Open 2020, Kenin, 26, retaliated to lead the second set 5-1 and seemed ready to take the match to a decision maker.
However, the seeded Pegula saved three section points and won six games in a row to seal the victory against an opponent at 40 places below it in the world ranking.
The success, coming a week after his final defeat of Miami in Aryna Sabalenka, was the eighth title of the career of Pegula and the second of the year after the victory in Austin last month.
“To be able to come here this week after two long weeks in Miami and take the title is simply incredible,” said Pegula, who will reach the number three in the ranking.
The 31 -year -old told the tennis channel that she felt tired in the second set in “super windy” conditions.
“In the second set, I just wanted to hold on, I just wanted to say to take momentum for the third, because entering a third like this one never feels good,” she added.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to break her twice, but luckily I could play good tennis.”
Compatriot Jenson Brooksby won his first ATP title at the American Clay Court short championships in Houston.
The 24-year-old, who entered the tournament as a qualification joker, amazed the second seeded and the 2023 Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-2 champion.
Brooksby, ranked a 507th rank until the 17th of Tiafoe on the ATP list, returned to the tour this season after having served a 13 -month ban for three doping test failures “ `where ” in a 12 -month period are located.
He has a high career ranking of 33rd and was elected the newcomer of the year in 2021.
