Charleston Open: A two-decade milestone achieved as four top seeds reunite in SF

All four top seeds advanced to the semi-finals of the Charleston Open on Friday. This is the first time since 2000 that this has happened in the event. This meant that the 2022 finalists Ons Jabeur and Belinda Bencic made it to the penultimate round.

Jabeur, the 2022 Charleston finalist, got past Anna Kalinskaya 6-0, 4-1 after 46 minutes after the latter retired midway in the second set. Despite the abruptness of the proceedings, Jabeur dominated it thoroughly. She saved all three break points she faced and converted four of six break points on Kalinskaya’s serve.

This is the second semi-final the 28-year-old’s made in 2023. Earlier, she’d reached the semis of the Adelaide International in January. After the match, Jabeur said, “I wish Anna a speedy recovery. I think it was a great match for me. I think I did everything how it’s supposed to be and listened to my coach, 100%, for the first time in my career.”

For a spot in a final for the first time this year, the Tunisian will play third seed Daria Kasatkina. Kasatkina had to toil for a little over two-and-a-half hours to get past ninth seed Madison Keys. The American had gone into the match with an 8-1 win-to-loss record against Kasatkina. In the match, too, Keys took the opening set before Kasatkina prevailed 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2.

Charleston Open: Belinda Bencic awaits Jessica Pegula challenge

In the top half, Bencic, the reigning champion, took her place in the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. The fourth seed needed an hour and 19 minutes to get the win.

Bencic won 77% of her first-serve points to Alexandrova’s 59%. Although the Swiss did fail to save both break points she faced, she also converted five break points on her opponent’s serve.

World no. 3 and top-seeded Jessica Pegula will be Bencic’s opponent in the Charleston Open semi-finals. The American pipped 12th seed Paula Badosa in their quarter-final clash 6-3, 7-6(6) after an hour and 41 minutes of play. This is the fourth time Pegula’s reached the semi-final of a WTA event this year. She’ll be looking to make it to the second final of the year after the Doha Open (lost to Iga Swiatek) in February.

Photo Credit: Ons Jabeur Twitter