Jessica Pegula is a WTA champion once again, although it took over 11 hours of tennis for her to win the Charleston Open.
Pegula was delighted after winning the Charleston Open, her second title of the season and the 11th of her superb career so far.
But the WTA number five, who was the top seed in Charleston, certainly went about defending her title the hard way.
Pegula played four three-set matches before a straight-sets final win over Yuliia Starodubtseva, which took her total time on the court to 11 hours and 22 minutes.
In comparison, she played for seven hours and 36 minutes en route to winning the Dubai title in February, with the American understandably left drained following her latest success.
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Jessica Pegula ‘drained’ after 11 hours of tennis at the Charleston Open
When asked how she’s feeling after the busy week, in which she also played one doubles match, Pegula told the WTA website: “My body actually feels pretty good, but I just feel very drained.
“I feel like someone kind of like sucked the life out of me or kind of zapped me, electrocuted me and I’m like very fried.
“I actually felt much better today than I did a couple days ago. I think after my match with Diana [Shnaider], I was pretty wiped. Going into the match with Iva [Jovic], I was really tired.
“There was definitely times in that match where I was looking at my coach, and I think I said it… I kind of just let myself be tired.
“I knew I was tired. I wasn’t fighting it. I was emotionally pretty out of it. I actually feel better today. Obviously played a much quicker match.
“Still a lot of stimulation from doing all the stuff when you win a tournament, so once I get home, I’ll be actually able to just lay on the couch and de-stimulate a bit.”
Jessica Pegula’s remarkable Charleston Open run
It was a roller-coaster week for Pegula at the Charleston Open, where she started out with a doubles defeat.
Playing alongside compatriot Asia Muhammad, she was defeated 6-4, 7-6(7-4) by Erin Routliffe and Jennifer Brady.
That loss allowed the home favorite to fully focus on her singles campaign, but that run looked in doubt on more than one occasion.
| Round | Opponent (Seed) | Score | Time |
| Bye | – | – | – |
| Second round | Yulia Putintseva | 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 | 3hr 10min |
| Third round | Elisabetta Cocciaretto (14) | 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(7-1) | 2hr 5min |
| Quarterfinal | Diana Shnaider (7) | 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 | 2hr 10min |
| Semifinal | Iva Jovic (4) | 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 | 2hr 35min |
| Final | Yuliia Starodubtseva | 6-2, 6-2 | 1hr 22min |
She remarkably dropped the first set in her first three matches, before another lengthy three-set battle with fellow American Iva Jovic.
It was once again a fitting demonstration of her fantastic durability and mental strength on the court, which is arguably second to none on the WTA Tour right now.
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