Support from Jessica Pegula: Yulia Starodubtseva Impresses at WTA 500 Tournament in Charleston

American tennis player Jessica Pegula, who holds the fifth position in the WTA world rankings, has publicly congratulated and expressed her support for Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva following her defeat in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston. Pegula noted that Yulia displayed remarkable tennis throughout the week of competition and wished her continued success both on and off the court.

"I want to congratulate Yulia. Amazing tennis this week, I wish you and your team only success. And, maybe some of you don’t know, she has an incredible story, so I encourage you to get to know her better and keep cheering for her," Pegula was quoted by BTU.

For 26-year-old Yulia Starodubtseva, this final marked the first of her career at the WTA level. She became the 13th Ukrainian tennis player to reach the decisive match in the WTA Tour events and the sixth to make it to the final in WTA 500 category tournaments. This achievement represents a significant milestone in her career and showcases her growing potential on the international stage.

By participating in the tournament in Charleston, Starodubtseva earned $218,000, a substantial amount for a player just beginning her career at a high level. As a result of this performance, she is set to rise to the 53rd position in the world rankings, marking a personal best for her.

On her path to the final, Yulia Starodubtseva demonstrated impressive results. She first secured a victory over Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who is ranked 62nd in the world. In the second round, the Ukrainian defeated Ekaterine Gorgodze from Georgia, ranked 164th, and in the third round, she overcame Mexican player Renata Sarazua, who holds the 85th position in the world rankings.

In the quarterfinals, Starodubtseva faced 26-year-old American McCartney Kessler, ranked 53rd in the WTA, and won with a score of 6-4, 6-4. In the semifinals, she confidently defeated 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who is ranked 18th in the world, with a score of 6-1, 6-4. These victories showcased her talent and determination on the court.

It is worth noting that earlier news reported that two-time Roland Garros champion announced her pregnancy, which caused a significant stir in the tennis world. Now, attention is turning to new stars like Yulia Starodubtseva, who undoubtedly has great potential to reach new heights in tennis.