Sunday, April 6, 2025

🎾 WTA Charleston: Pegula vs Kenin Final

🎾 WTA Charleston: Pegula vs Kenin – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🟨 Jessica Pegula

  • 🔥 Third time lucky: After two semifinal exits, Pegula finally reaches the Charleston final with a gutsy 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 win over Alexandrova.
  • 💪 Big-match consistency: Sixth final in the past eight months, and fifth WTA final on U.S. soil (2–3 in those finals).
  • 🏆 Finals hurdle: Career finals record stands at 7–10, with recent runner-up finishes to Sabalenka at major events.
  • 📈 2025 win leader: Holds a 24–6 record this season—most wins on tour.
  • 🎯 Title overdue: In top form for months, Pegula is hungry to finally secure another big title.

🟥 Sofia Kenin

  • 🌪️ Surprise package: Into her second career clay final, without dropping a set until Anisimova retired at 2–5 in the semifinal.
  • 📈 Resurgence story: Back in the top 50 after a fall to No. 168 in late 2024. Showing flashes of her 2020 AO champion form.
  • 📊 Finals pedigree: Has won 5 of 9 career finals, but has lost her last three.
  • 💚 Charleston breakthrough: Had never made it past R2 here until this run, beating Bencic, Kasatkina, and Kalinskaya without dropping a set.
  • 🏖️ Calm under pressure: Her smooth timing and counterpunching are working beautifully on Charleston’s green clay.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This all-American final brings together two intelligent, tactical players with differing paths to the championship. Pegula is the favorite, with elite consistency and a game well-suited to the green clay's moderate pace and bounce.

Kenin has quietly put together one of her best weeks in years. Her clean ball-striking, defensive anticipation, and early timing make her a nightmare to rush—especially when she's confident.

The psychological edge may play a role: Pegula has faltered in recent finals, while Kenin has a Grand Slam title under her belt. But Pegula’s current level and drive to convert strong weeks into titles give her a razor-thin edge.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Pegula in 3 sets

Kenin will make this a battle, but Pegula’s blend of control, confidence, and desire for a title breakthrough should help her overcome one last hurdle in Charleston.

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