Charleston Open Day Four Round-up | Jessica Pegula was involved in another three-way battle as Keys and Bencic set up a quarter-final clash

It wasn’t an easy task for top seed Jessica Pegula, who didn’t make it easy, but she still proved too good against Elisabetta Cocciaretto in what could have been a huge upset at the Charleston Open.

The dominant player would go on to win 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1) but it was clear that the first set would have been the start of something very special for the Italian. He outclassed his opponent in the opening stages, taking just 32 minutes to get into a comfortable lead.

That 6-1 score was matched by the world number five who was desperately trying to find a way back into the match. He was in a dangerous position again when his opponent got a timely break. He left late to end that advantage, going down 4-1 before finally getting a series of games under his belt to secure the position. It would end up being a tiebreak that had a lot going for it.

The last time Pegula failed to reach the quarterfinals of a WTA tournament was the 2025 Cincinnati Open back in August. He wasn’t going to let that record go without a fight and beat his opponent at a critical moment, giving him no chance to come back as he sneaked into another tough match in Charleston.

Jessica Pegula’s quest to win the Charleston Open for a second year continues

Bencic overcomes a tricky test

Belinda Bencic explains. Sara Bejlek 7-6(4), 6-2

Belinda Bencic fought her way back to a game that at one time seemed to be in trouble. In the end, he proved too strong for Sara Bejlek.

It would be the Czech who ran first with a clinical three-game burst that put the world number 12 on the back foot. However, Bencic was able to respond and level the score at 3-3. Bejlek threatened to repeat that fate as he broke ahead 5-3 and would try to serve for the first game. Bencic made a short comeback and forced a breakaway. The 2022 champion took a slim lead and held it throughout the lead.

Bencic enjoyed his first success on the clay in Charleston, reaching the finals. The final three came a little closer as he won five games on the spin with a strong response to break in the first game of the second set. Bejlek stopped Bencic from serving it the first time, but he couldn’t do anything about his volition that was attacked in the second set. Bencic confirmed his place in the last eight, having now won several times to climb into the top 10.

Belinda Bencic won the Charleston Open in 2022

Keys opens the way to the last eight

Madison Keys explains. Anna Bondar 6-2, 7-5

Madison Keys has a lot of good history in this tournament. She reached the final in 2015 before crossing the line in 2019. She will be hoping to return to Charleston, and she took a step closer to that dream with a comfortable win over Anna Bondar.

Four of the first five matches went against serve as Keys took advantage of points. From 4-1, you saw both players start to settle in their work. The second group was very strong. Bodar seemed to have responded brilliantly with a break to move 3-1 ahead, but Keys came back quickly, halting the Hungarian’s progress. It stayed in action with the tiebreak looking close. However, the former Australian Open champion broke serve at a crucial moment. He served the match from 6-5 and set up a thrilling clash against Bencic in the quarterfinals.

The ways of Shnaider Fernandez

Diana Schneider explains. Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-0

It started out as a close match, but eventually it turned out in favor of Diana Shnaider who beat Leylah Fernandez in a series of matches that went to the end of the match.

This would have been different if the Canadian had taken one of his first chances. In the first two games, there were eight break points and all of them were lost. Fernandez had six chances but could not capitalize. It took four tries before Shnaider started to get frustrated.

He broke serve on his way to winning the first set 6-3 before the Russian continued to crush his opponent with some incredible tennis. He made it nine games around Fernandez with ease to earn back-to-back wins for the first time since the Australian Open.

Diana Schneider in action

Kessler takes down his fellow American in a stunning finish

McCartney Kessler explains. Peyton Stearns 6-0, 3-6, 6-4

At first it looked like McCartney Kessler would blow the wind past his fellow American. Despite winning nine of the first 10 games, he managed to get over the edge against Peyton Stearns who was threatening an unexpected comeback.

Kessler took only 23 minutes to bagel Stearns. After that, he would enter the second run to go up 3-1. Everything looked good, but then Stearns raised his level. He won five matches in a row and out of nowhere he forced the third team to decide.

Kessler failed to catch an early break, but it wouldn’t seem to matter. After seven consecutive catches, he broke at a crucial moment and now had a chance to serve it. Stearns had other ideas and immediately backed off. Kessler still had another chance to see it through but it was in his opponent’s favor. What followed was an incredible match that featured seven deuces and eight match points. In the end, Kessler sealed the deal and managed to place himself in the quarterfinals even though there was no convincing finish.

Walk in the park for Starodubtseva

Yulia Starodubtseva explains. Renata Zarazua. 6-1, 6-0

The fastest match of the day came from the loaded Yulia Starodubtseva, who had no problem taking down Renata Zarazúa.

After the two started the game, Zarazua didn’t get another game on the board. It was a stunning and seemingly endless burst from the Ukrainian who ended up winning 11 games in a row to shoot down his defenseless opponent and seal his place in the quarterfinals.