Jessica Pegula returned to the winner’s circle this week, but it took more than 11 hours of tennis for her to secure the Charleston Open title.

The American was understandably thrilled after adding another trophy to her collection, and it certainly didn’t come easily. Each of her first four matches went the distance, with three sets required every time.

By the end of the final – a 6-3, 7-6 win over Yuliia Starodubtseva – Pegula had spent a total of 11 hours and 22 minutes on court. For comparison, she needed just over seven and a half hours to win Dubai in February.

Pegula’s resilience stood out throughout the tournament, especially considering she was coming off two consecutive defeats before arriving in Charleston. After dropping early points in matches against Anna Kalinskaya and Elina Svitolina, she managed to turn both around before edging past Victoria Azarenka and Daria Kasatkina.

Jessica Pegula ‘drained’ after 11 hours of tennis at the Charleston Open

When asked about her week, which also included a 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 were 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. Emotionally pretty out of it. But today felt better, obviously played a much quicker match.”

Pegula has been one of the most in-form players on tour this year, making deep runs in most tournaments she’s entered so far this season.

The American has won 19 matches and only lost four times across all competitions, including reaching three finals already this year.

Pegula’s performances have helped her move up to fifth place in the world rankings as she looks ahead to more success on the clay court swing over the next two months.

Pegula powers through gruelling week at the Charleston Open

Jessica Pegula’s week in Charleston started off with a doubles loss before she turned her attention to singles.

Teaming up with Asia Muhammad, the pair were beaten 6-4, 7-6(7-4) by Erin Routliffe and Jennifer Brady.

The defeat gave Pegula a clear path to focus on singles, though her journey through the draw was far from straightforward.

She lost the opening set in each of her first three matches and then had to dig deep again in another long three-setter against fellow American Iva Jovic.

It was yet another reminder of her remarkable resilience and mental toughness — traits that have become hallmarks of her game on tour.

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