Top Seed Pegula Reaches Charleston Quarters in Tiebreak Thriller

Defending champion battles back to advance at WTA event

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:30pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes of bright colors, representing the dynamic action and competing perspectives of a tennis match.Pegula's hard-fought victory over Cocciaretto showcases the intensity and unpredictability of professional tennis.Charleston Today

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula, the defending champion, fought back to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA Charleston Open on Thursday, needing a final-set tiebreaker to defeat Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

Why it matters

Pegula, one of the top players on the women's tour, is seeking to defend her title at the prestigious Charleston event, a key stop on the road to the French Open and Wimbledon.

The details

After dropping the first set, Pegula rallied to force a decisive third-set tiebreaker, where she was able to clinch the victory and advance to the quarterfinals.

  • The match took place on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Jessica Pegula

The top-seeded player and defending champion at the WTA Charleston Open.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

An Italian tennis player who faced off against Pegula in the third round.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know what I was doing out there Oh my gosh, that's horrible,”

— Jessica Pegula

What’s next

Pegula will face the winner of the match between Ons Jabeur and Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

The takeaway

Pegula's ability to fight back and win a tight tiebreaker demonstrates her resilience and determination as she seeks to defend her title at the prestigious Charleston event.