WTA Charleston Open Round-Up Day Three | Bianca Andreescu knocked out by Kenin while Paula Badosa beats Sakkari
WTAThursday, 02 April 2026 at 04:58
The Charleston Open Round of 16 line-up began to take shape on Day Three, with several top names navigating contrasting match patterns. Jessica Pegula recovered from a set down, Paula Badosa secured a controlled win over Maria Sakkari, and Madison Keys advanced efficiently. Elsewhere, Leylah Fernandez produced a clean performance, while Sofia Kenin ended Bianca Andreescu’s run in straight sets.
With the Charleston Open moving into its latter stages, the results carried implications for both form and draw structure. Pegula, one of the top seeds, was pushed into a deciding set, while Badosa continues to build momentum on clay. Keys reinforced her consistency at this event, and Fernandez’s progression adds another stable baseline profile into the Round of 16 mix.
Pegula overturns Putintseva after three-hour battle
Jessica Pegula def. Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Jessica Pegula advanced into the Round of 16 after a three-set win over Yulia Putintseva, in a match that lasted over three hours – the longest victory of Pegula’s career. The match opened with extended baseline exchanges and limited separation on serve, but Putintseva capitalised late in the first set after recovering an early break deficit. Pegula’s level dipped slightly in key return games, allowing Putintseva to take control of the closing phase.
he dynamic shifted in the second set as Pegula increased depth on return and improved her positioning behind the baseline. The American stayed ahead after securing three consecutive breaks that carried her to a 5-2 lead. Although it took extra effort to close the set, she managed to send the match into a decider with a 6-4 scoreline.
Pegula’s efficiency on return proved decisive, particularly in the final set where she converted key break chances under pressure. She recovered from a 0-2 deficit in the decider and managed the closing stages more effectively. With the win, she advances into the Round of 16 and reinforces her position as top seed, and will face Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in pursuit of a place in the quarterfinals.
Badosa exposes second-serve vulnerabilities to defeat Sakkari
Paula Badosa def. Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-4
Paula Badosa progressed into the Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Maria Sakkari, built around consistent baseline tolerance and targeted pressure on second serve. After an early exchange of breaks, Sakkari initially moved ahead, but Badosa responded quickly and established control through longer rally patterns.
The turning point came midway through the first set, where Badosa began attacking Sakkari’s second delivery more consistently. She won three consecutive games to close the opener and carried that momentum into the second set, building an early lead while maintaining depth and direction off both wings.
Badosa took advantage of Sakkari’s low consistency on first serve – winning just 58% of those points, far below Badosa’s 77%. The former World No. 2 was sharp throughout the match on return, converting four breaks from 11 opportunities, while Sakkari capitalised on her only two break chances.
Fernandez maintains control in one-sided win over Kudermetova
Leylah Fernandez def. Polina Kudermetova 6-2, 6-1
Leylah Fernandez advanced comfortably into the Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Polina Kudermetova. The match was defined early by Fernandez’s ability to control direction from the baseline and apply immediate pressure on return. The ninth seed won up to 67% of points on serve, compared to just 46% for Kudermetova. She converted four breaks from nine opportunities, while never dropping her own serve.
The Canadian showed her favourite patterns, and although Kudermetova was able to keep pace for a few games early on, Fernandez ended up winning eight of the final nine games of the match. The second set took her just 30 minutes to close out the 6-2, 6-1 victory, and she will face seventh seed Diana Shnaider for a place in the quarterfinals.
Keys advances with structured performance over Vekic
Madison Keys def. Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3
Madison Keys moved into the Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Donna Vekic, built around first-strike tennis and controlled service games.
The former Australian Open champion dominated from the start, being aggressive on return to secure three consecutive breaks early. In fact, the American went on a run of 10 consecutive return points against an erratic Vekic, who struggled in the first set with just 39% of service points won and as many as five double faults.
In the second set, things improved slightly for Vekic, who made adjustments on her first serve – increasing from 52% first serves in during the opening set to 80% in the second. However, her low efficiency ultimately proved costly, while Keys conceded just three points on serve in the second set.
The American was clearly superior in the closing stages of the match and secured a third-round meeting with Anna Bondar.
Kenin controls key phases to eliminate Andreescu
Sofia Kenin def. Bianca Andreescu 6-4, 6-4
Sofia Kenin ended Bianca Andreescu’s run at the Charleston Open with a straight-sets win, managing key moments more effectively across both sets. It was a clash between former Grand Slam champions – two players who won consecutive majors, Andreescu at the 2019 US Open and Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. More than six years later, both are far from their peak level, but they still delivered a strong contest that ultimately leaned in favour of the home player.
Kenin carried additional pressure as a finalist at this event in 2025, with important ranking points to defend and the need to avoid a drop in the standings. A single break gave her the advantage in the first set, while in the second she quickly moved ahead to take control of the momentum.
After going up a double break in the second set, Kenin served at 5-1 but struggled to close out the match. Andreescu responded by winning three consecutive games and saving a couple of match points, but it was not enough to complete the comeback, as Kenin sealed a key victory.
Jovic settles after early exchanges to defeat Parks
Iva Jovic def. Alycia Parks 6-3, 6-2
Iva Jovic progressed into the Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Alycia Parks, recovering from an early break deficit to establish control. The match began with frequent break opportunities, but Jovic adjusted quickly, improving her return positioning and stabilising her service games.
The key adjustment came as Jovic increased consistency in extended rallies, forcing Parks into lower-percentage patterns. After trailing early, she won four consecutive games to take control of the first set. The teenager built a lead up to 4-1 and then held firmly on serve to close the set 6-3.
In the second set, Jovic was especially sharp, securing two breaks and not conceding her serve before closing out a convincing win. She saved as many as eight break points throughout the match and was broken only once.
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