Jessica Pegula edged out Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a grueling three-hour, 10-minute first-round match at the Charleston Open. The world No. 1 described the clash as a 'nightmare' due to her opponent's tricky style and tough conditions. Pegula advances to face Elisabetta Cocciaretto next.
Jessica Pegula overcame a tough challenge from Yulia Putintseva in the opening round of the Charleston Open, securing a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory that lasted three hours and 10 minutes. This marked the longest tour-level win of Pegula's career, surpassing her previous record of 3:04 against Leylah Fernandez in the 2024 Cincinnati quarterfinals. Putintseva took a medical timeout at 3-3 in the first set for a small cut on her knuckle, but the intensity remained high throughout. Pegula held off two break points for Putintseva to go up 3-0 in the third set, turning the match with smart shot selection under pressure. Putintseva twice held two points to lead 3-0 in the third set, but Pegula stayed composed to prevail. The match marked their first meeting on clay, after Pegula won their prior three encounters without dropping a set. Pegula called Putintseva 'a nightmare,' adding, 'If there’s one person in the draw I would really not want to play first match on clay, she was like the number one.' She described a 'panic moment' early in the second set, frustrated as her patterns failed against Putintseva's high, loopy balls amid wind and shadows. 'It was windy, and there were shadows on one side of the court. It made it difficult with those high balls,' Pegula said. In her on-court interview, Pegula reflected, 'Welcome to clay-court season. Kudos to Yulia. She’s a really tricky opponent, especially on clay.' The win improves Pegula's record to 7-1 in three-set matches this season and 16-4 since the US Open. She holds a 133-81 career clay record at WTA level and won the 2025 Charleston Open title. Pegula plans to adapt her hard-court strengths to clay without fully changing her aggressive style.