“Back to the true roots of my game”: Pegula details rebuild before Charleston Open 2026

Jessica Pegula arrives at the 2026 Charleston Open in a position that blends continuity with adjustment. The American, currently ranked World No. 5, returns to South Carolina as defending champion, carrying both recent consistency and a clear technical recalibration developed over the past six months.

The 32-year-old’s trajectory since mid-2025 has been defined by a corrective phase following a brief dip in form. After a stretch that included a 2–4 record between Wimbledon and Cincinnati last summer, Pegula and her coaching team moved to reassess key elements of her game. The outcome has been a sustained run of results that now places her among the most reliable performers on tour entering the clay swing.

Since her early loss at the Cincinnati Open 2025, Pegula reached at least the semi-finals in the next seven tournaments she played — across the latter part of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 — including the US Open, Australian Open and WTA Finals. Her semi-final streak only came to an end during this Sunshine Double — although not by much, as she still produced solid runs to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells and Miami Open — losing on both occasions to Elena Rybakina, current World No. 2.

That sequence extended a broader pattern, with Pegula reaching at least the quarter-finals in nine consecutive tournaments, underlining her consistency at the highest level. The American’s return to Charleston also carries the weight of her 2025 title run, where she lifted the trophy on green clay as part of a season that featured multiple finals and titles across surfaces.

Pegula’s mid-season struggles last year were not rooted in physical limitations alone, but in a disconnect between execution and identity. She described that period in direct terms, noting that the issue extended beyond results and into how she experienced her own game during matches. “I didn’t feel like myself,” she reflected in an interview at the Charleston Open. “I didn’t feel like I was playing my game.”

That diagnosis prompted a structured response alongside her coaches, Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein. Rather than introducing new tactical layers, the emphasis shifted toward reinforcing existing strengths — earlier ball striking, improved footwork patterns and a greater focus on serve efficiency. The objective was clarity, not reinvention. “My coaches and I worked on a lot of stuff to get my game back, to emphasize what I do really well, kind of get back to the true roots of my game.”

The adjustments have translated into measurable improvements. Pegula’s ability to generate free points on serve has increased, while her baseline patterns have regained the early timing that defines her style. “We went back to emphasizing how I play tennis,” the World No. 5 said. “We kind of went back to the basics of, ‘Okay, this is how you play. It’s special. How do we make that more efficient?’”

Beyond her individual trajectory, Pegula’s return to Charleston unfolds within a broader context: the sustained rise of American women on the WTA Tour. The tournament draw includes former champions such as Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens, alongside players like Iva Jovic, Sofia Kenin and Hailey Baptiste, all contributing to a dense competitive field.

Several U.S. players remain established within the Top 20, reflecting both depth and continuity at the elite level. Pegula herself has been a consistent Top 10 presence across recent seasons, while compatriots have continued to produce results across surfaces.

“Our depth in the U.S. is pretty crazy right now,” Pegula said. “I feel like every time I go deep, there’s multiple Americans that are there. It’s been incredible. I’m glad that I’ve been able to be a part of this era of all these girls doing really well in the States. I know it’s definitely motivated me to see them do well.”

The generational dynamic is also shifting, with younger players entering the conversation and increasing competitive pressure within the same national group. Pegula acknowledged that evolution while positioning herself as both participant and reference point within that structure.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this amazing group,” she added. “There’s a lot of young ones like Iva that are coming up, whom I’m way older than, which is really depressing. [Laughs.] I’m glad I’m able to inspire and show that next generation that’s coming up.”