CHARLESTON, S.C. — Iva Jovic has advanced to the quarterfinals at Charleston. The newcomer to the tournament defeated her fellow American and 2025 finalist Sofia Kenin with a score of 7-5, 7-5 in a match lasting two hours and seven minutes.
Charleston: Scores | Draws | Order of play
Currently, four American players remain in the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz in Charleston: Jovic, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, and McCartney Kessler. Jovic will compete against Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Although Jovic won in straight sets, the match was competitive. Kenin managed to save two match points while trailing 5-4 in the second set, prolonging the contest. After Jovic secured a 6-5 lead, Kenin’s right shoulder appeared to be bothering her, leading to a medical timeout. Undeterred, Jovic finished the match with her fifth break of serve.
“It was a tricky match overall,” Jovic remarked. “There were a lot of close calls. Kenin’s serves on match point were tough, but I focused on holding serve and staying in the game.”
In the second set, Kenin initially broke Jovic, but the 18-year-old star quickly leveled the score at 4-4. Jovic’s timely breaks ultimately frustrated Kenin, particularly considering her relative lack of experience on green clay. After her victory, Jovic expressed relief, celebrating her first quarterfinal since the Australian Open.
Keys Returns to Charleston Quarterfinals
In her 13th appearance at Charleston, Madison Keys has reached the quarterfinals for the sixth time. The 2019 champion won against Anna Bondar with scores of 6-2, 7-5, largely due to five breaks of serve against the Hungarian.
Keys immediately exerted pressure with multiple break point opportunities, taking an early 3-0 lead in the first set. Though Bondar fought back in a closely contested second set, Keys secured the final break at a critical moment and served out the match with a signature cross-court forehand winner, completing the contest in one hour and 46 minutes.
With nearly 70% of her first serves landing in, Keys also excelled on second serves, winning about 90% of those points. She will next face 2022 Charleston champion Belinda Bencic for a place in the semifinals.
“It will be a tough matchup,” Keys acknowledged. “Bencic is excellent at taking the ball early, and she plays well on any surface, which makes her a formidable opponent.”
Bencic echoed this sentiment, stating that she prefers to face Keys on clay rather than hard courts as the slower surface slightly diminishes Keys’ power. Their head-to-head record shows a competitive history, with Keys having a 3-2 lead and winning their last encounter at Indian Wells in 2025.
More to come
