In another three-setter, Pegula emerges victorious in All-American Charleston semifinal

Jessica Pegula kept her Charleston title defense alive with another three-set win, beating Iva Jovic to reach the final at the Credit One Charleston Open.

The defending champion won 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in 2 hours and 35 minutes, according to WTA coverage. The result sent Pegula into her second straight Charleston final after a semifinal that matched her against the rising American teenager.

Pegula had already survived a series of tough matches earlier in the week, and the semifinal followed the same pattern. She took the opening set, dropped the second and then closed out the match in the decider to advance on the green clay in Charleston.

The official tournament coverage had already set up the All-American semifinal after Pegula beat Diana Shnaider and Jovic advanced to the last four. Pegula then completed the job and moved one step away from defending her title.

The final opponent will come from the other semifinal. For Pegula, the win extends a strong Charleston run and keeps her in position to defend the trophy she won last year.