Jessica Pegula becomes new U.S. No. 1 with 2025 Charleston Open title
One week after her runner-up finish in Miami, Jessica Pegula is the champion in Charleston. The top seed won her first WTA Tour clay-court crown Sunday with a 6-3, 7-5 victory against compatriot Sofia Kenin, a result that lifted her back to her career-high ranking of world No. 3.
The 2024 US Open finalist also reclaimed the title of No. 1 American in the WTA singles rankings by moving up one place ahead of Coco Gauff. Behind Gauff at world No. 4, reigning Australian Open champ Madison Keys rounds out the WTA's Top 5.
Pegula has now won 17 of her past 19 matches dating back to the start of her Austin title run in late February. With five victories in Charleston, including three-setters against seventh seed Danielle Collins and ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, the American now leads the WTA Tour with 25 match wins on the season.
After becoming the 10th American to win the Charleston title—joining Rosie Casals, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Keys and Collins—Pegula explained the significance of her home-soil triumph in an emotional trophy speech.
“I grew up in Hilton Head, South Carolina, going to Smith Stearns Tennis Academy,” she said. “I learned how to play tennis there on the clay, where the old Family Circle Cup used to be… then spent a couple of years training here on Daniel Island in my early 20s.
“To be able to come here this week after a long two weeks in Miami and take the title is just incredible.”
Jessica Pegula and her dog Maddie during the Charleston Open trophy ceremony. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images.
Pegula and Kenin contested their all-American final to cap a dominant week for U.S. players in Charleston. Five Americans were among the singles quarterfinal lineup (also Collins, Emma Navarro, Amanda Anisimova) and three reached the semis, with Anisimova retiring with a hip injury against Kenin.
In a dramatic title match played in windy conditions, Pegula won the final four games of the opening set from 2-3 and the final five games of the second set from 1-5 to claim the title.
"In the second set, I just wanted to hold. I just wanted to tell myself to get momentum for the third, because coming into a third like that never feels good," she said of her mentality at 5-1 down. "I knew I could break her, too. I honestly didn't think I was going to break her twice, but luckily, I could play some good tennis."
Pareja, 16, becomes youngest WTA semifinalist since Gauff
Making her WTA Tour main-draw debut, 16-year-old qualifier Julieta Pareja advanced to the semifinals at the WTA 250 in Bogota. The American did not drop a set through two qualifying wins and three main-draw victories last week.
Pareja is the youngest woman to reach a tour-level semifinal since a 15-year-old Gauff won Linz in 2019.
"I'm not surprised by my level, I'm surprised by the tournament," said the California native of Colombian heritage. "A 250 and I'm in the semifinals —wow! But I think my level is there and I'm proud to be showing it."
Pareja, who reached the final qualifying round at the 2024 US Open, moved up more than 200 spots in the WTA rankings to a new high of world No. 335 behind her dream debut. Her success has also staked her an early lead in the USTA's Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge, through which she could make her Grand Slam debut in Paris.
Read more: Pareja, Smith lead Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge
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