Jessica Pegula admits panic moment in tough Charleston opener

Jessica Pegula has made a steady start to 2024 and will be looking to add another title to her season here in Charleston.

The 32-year-old put together an impressive run earlier in the year, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and picking up a title in Dubai not long after.

Since then, though, she’s run into Elena Rybakina, who knocked her out of both Indian Wells and Miami in the quarterfinals.

Charleston now gives her a chance to reset and build some momentum again.

Pegula said: “That was kind of another moment where I had a little panic. My allergies were acting up really bad.”

Jessica Pegula reflects on tight opening win in Charleston

Pegula spoke to Tennis Channel after the match, sharing her thoughts on a moment in the second set when she worried she might be heading out of the tournament.

Having dropped the first set, Pegula knew she needed to find something extra if she was going to turn things around and keep up her strong start to 2026.

She opened up about that pressure, saying: “I had a little panic moment at the beginning of the second because I felt like nothing was working. I knew the patterns she was playing against me, but I couldn’t quite solve it.

“I was missing a lot of balls trying to execute certain patterns for myself. I think I just committed a little bit more. I started returning better and being more aggressive with my returns, which was setting me up in points much better.

“I didn’t really serve that great throughout the whole match, but I did find slightly better serving spots, which helped me avoid getting into trouble early in points.”

Pegula also acknowledged how well Putintseva played: “But she was playing perfectly. She was hanging tough.

Pegula went on: “She was playing high, loopy balls, and it’s tough with shadows on one side and wind involved too. With those higher shots, sometimes you want to take them early out of the air, but judging them is hard – especially when they’re moving around due to wind.

“It becomes so easy to second-guess yourself and feel off balance out there.”

Is a Grand Slam title within reach for Jessica Pegula in 2026?

For years, Pegula has been viewed as a top-level player who couldn’t quite make the jump at the Grand Slam level.

While she came into her own a bit later than most, she became known for her consistency at majors but never made it past the quarter-final stage. From 2021 to 2023, Pegula reached six quarter-finals out of 12 appearances and lost each time.

However, that narrative has shifted recently. Since then, she’s reached a Grand Slam final in 2024 and followed that up with two more semi-final runs.

Pegula appears to be building towards something significant as she approaches the latter stages of her career. On her day, she’s capable of challenging anyone on tour. Her longevity and continued growth shouldn’t be overlooked.

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