5 News: Pegula rallies past Shnaider again to reach Charleston semifinals
5 news from Charleston: Defending champion and No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula is back in the Credit One Charleston Open semifinals after another comeback win on Friday, overcoming No. 7 seed Diana Shnaider 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Pegula again had to climb out of trouble, coming from a set down and then a break down in the third set for the third match in a row this week. The result keeps Pegula’s title defense alive and sets up a semifinal meeting with No. 4 seed Iva Jovic.
Friday in Charleston: Pegula digs out of a third straight deficit
Pegula’s path through the week has been anything but smooth, and Friday followed the same pattern. After dropping the first set, she steadied herself in the second, then found herself behind again in the deciding set before turning the match sharply in her favor.
From 2-0 down in the third, Pegula closed the door emphatically, reeling off the last six games in a row to finish the comeback. The match featured a series of crowd-pleasing shots from Shnaider, but Pegula ultimately “quelled” the challenge with more aggressive play late in the decider.
The win also continued a notable trend in Pegula’s recent results: she is 9-1 in three-set matches in 2026, and 18-4 in three-setters since the US Open.
Immediate reactions: “I didn’t think I had any more lives left”
Speaking in her on-court interview after the match, Pegula made clear just how tight the contest felt from her side of the net.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I had any more lives left there for a bit, ” Jessica Pegula said. “I was getting really frustrated, it was very slow and wet and muggy and I felt like the ball wasn’t going anywhere. I got really mad at myself at the end of the first. I feel like it’s been the same the last few matches — I’ve just been able to hold on to my serve, find some rhythm and serve really well, and then just find ways to break. At the end of the third I started to step in a little bit better and play more aggressive. ”
Pegula also described a scheduling choice that came with consequences. She said the Charleston tournament director offered her the option to play first or second on Stadium Court on Friday afternoon, and she chose to play first — a decision she later said she slightly regretted due to the quick turnaround and the wear and tear building from her long matches.
“It was funny, I chose to be first on today, and I woke up this morning kind of regretting it a little bit because I was like, ‘Ugh. I wish I could sleep for a couple more hours with the somewhat quick turnaround from yesterday, ’” Pegula said. “But my recovery process, it stays the same, especially if I’m in kind of a routine. I would say the only thing is if there’s something bother you, then obviously you play more attention to that, but it’s pretty much the same. ”
Key sequence: Shnaider’s grit, then Pegula’s instant answer
A pivotal stretch came midway through the second set. With Shnaider serving at 2-1 down, she survived a marathon game to hold for 2-2, working through seven deuces and saving four break points. The 22-year-old’s escapes included a service winner, two one-two punches, and a highlight sequence featuring a deep response to a Pegula lob followed by a winning counter-drop on the run.
But any momentum gained was immediately tested. Pegula replied with a clean hold to love in the next game, resetting the pressure on Shnaider and helping swing the match toward a third set where Pegula’s late surge proved decisive.
What’s next in Charleston
Pegula now advances to her fourth semifinal in six tournaments this year and will face No. 4 seed Iva Jovic next, a matchup that follows Pegula’s most recent win over Jovic in Dubai. For 5 news watchers tracking this tournament in real time, the headline is simple: Pegula is still finding ways to win, even when the route gets long — and her title defense remains firmly on track heading into the weekend.
