Pegula defends Charleston Open title, first since Serena

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula beats Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets to win her second consecutive Charleston Open championship.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:20pm

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Jessica Pegula successfully defended her Credit One Charleston Open tennis title, beating unseeded Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday. Pegula became the first player to win back-to-back Charleston titles since Serena Williams in 2012 and 2013. The Charleston Open doubled its prize money this year to $2.5 million, with Pegula collecting $354,345 for the victory compared to $164,400 last year.

Why it matters

Pegula's victory continues her strong start to the 2026 season and cements her status as one of the top players on the WTA Tour. The Charleston Open's significant increase in prize money also reflects the ongoing push for equal pay between the WTA and ATP tours.

The details

Pegula played four three-set matches and spent more than 13 hours on court this week before the straight-set victory over Starodubtseva, a 26-year-old from Ukraine ranked No. 89 in the world. Pegula served for the match at 5-0 but failed to cash in on three match points before finally closing it out on her fourth match point.

  • Pegula defended her Charleston Open title on April 5, 2026.
  • Serena Williams won the Charleston Open in 2012 and 2013.

The players

Jessica Pegula

The top-seeded American player who successfully defended her Charleston Open title, becoming the first player to win back-to-back championships at the event since Serena Williams in 2012-2013.

Yuliia Starodubtseva

The unseeded 26-year-old Ukrainian player who reached her first WTA Tour final at the Charleston Open, earning $218,225 in the process.

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What’s next

Pegula will look to build on her Charleston Open title as she continues her quest for a maiden Grand Slam championship later this year.

The takeaway

Pegula's successful title defense in Charleston cements her status as one of the top players on the WTA Tour, while the significant increase in prize money for the event reflects the ongoing push for equal pay between the men's and women's professional tennis circuits.