Jessica Pegula leads American charge into Charleston Open semi-finals

The reigning champion defeated seventh-seeded Russian Diana Shnaider 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, extending a remarkable pattern of comebacks after dropping the opening set in all three of her matches this week.

Pegula's latest turnaround was particularly emphatic in the decider. After falling 2-0 behind, she reeled off six consecutive games to seal victory, underlining her dominance under pressure.

Her serving proved decisive, firing eight aces without a single double fault, while Shnaider struggled with six double faults. The American has now spent over seven hours on court across her three matches.

Awaiting Pegula in the semi-finals is fellow American and fourth seed Iva Jovic, who impressed in her quarterfinal by defeating eighth seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 in just 81 minutes. At only 18, Jovic has now reached her third tour-level semi-final since September.

The bottom half of the draw will see fifth seed Madison Keys take on Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. Keys fought back to beat third seed Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, while Starodubtseva defeated McCartney Kessler 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first tour-level semi-final.

Starodubtseva's breakthrough ensures the semi-finals are not an all-American affair, though the host nation still boasts three representatives in the final four.

READ MORE: Sharks fade as Connacht take control to book Challenge Cup quarter-final