Top-seeded Jessica Pegula came back after losing the first set to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the second round of the Charleston Open on Tuesday night.
Pegula hit seven aces during the match but struggled to convert break points, managing to capitalize on only 4 out of 15 opportunities. Anisimova, on the other hand, converted 4 out of 8 break points.
Pegula acknowledged Anisimova’s strong ball-striking abilities, making her a challenging opponent.
“I had to stay focused and be more aggressive with my footwork to apply pressure on her. I also had to find ways to move her around and fight for points,” Pegula said. “It was a tough match, especially in the last set where the level of play was really high.”
Third-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece also progressed to the third round, defeating Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria 6-3, 6-4. Magda Linette of Poland staged a comeback after losing the first set to defeat No. 13 seed Dayana Yastremska of Bulgaria 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.
In earlier matches, Miami Open champion Danielle Collins and Sloane Stephens won their first-round matches. Collins beat Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-4, while Stephens defeated Magdalena Frech 6-0, 6-2. Collins, who has endometriosis, revealed that this will be her final season on tour.
“I want to end my career on a positive note, giving my best performance,” Collins said. Stephens expressed her enjoyment of playing on clay, citing its athletic demands and the constant need to stay focused during points.
Other winners on Tuesday included Taylor Townsend, Astra Sharma, Caroline Dolehide, Ashlyn Krueger, and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
