Jessica Pegula ‘disappointed’ after Charleston Open announces historic equal pay from 2026
World No.3 Jessica Pegula received $164,000 after beating compatriot Sofia Kenin in the Charleston Open final.
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Jessica Pegula (Image via X/Charleston Open)
Unfortunately for Jessica Pegula, the Charleston Open announced on April 6 that they have decided to offer equal prize money to the players from 2026 onwards. Pegula, the winner of the 2025 edition after her victory over Sofia Kenin 6-3, 7-5, was disappointed.
Not really. She just joked that she couldn’t grab more by winning the tournament this year. Pegula only spoke highly of the Navarro family for being the first to bring this change.
I was like, not this year? Not the year I won it? Come on. No, I’m just kidding.
Jessica Pegula said at the press conference
Ben Navarro, the father of World No.11 Emma Navarro and the owner of Charleston Open, announced that his company Credit One Bank has extended their title partnership with the tournament through 2031. With this, they became the first WTA 500 tournament to offer prize money equivalent to the ATP 500s before the 2033 deadline.
I think that’s amazing. I mean, what Ben Navarro and the Navarro family have done for tennis in the U.S. and women’s tennis, especially with doing that is really incredible, and I think he’s been inspired by seeing how well Emma has done and how much women’s tennis can really, really grow and her being a superstar in her own right.
Jessica Pegula added
Pegula pocketed $164,000 after winning the tournament; while the total prize pool was $1,064,510. All the weeklong WTA events of the 500 and 1000 categories have to increase the prize money to match the ones given in ATP events.
From 2026, the total prize pool will be approximately $1.15 million and is expected to increase over time to match what the men’s players are getting from ATP 500 events. Many ATP 500s offer more than $2 million in prize money.
Jessica Pegula wins her first clay-court title by lifting the Charleston Open
Jessica Pegula, after winning the first set against Sofia Kenin, was on the verge of defeat in the second. But she turned the table after being 1-5 in the second set to stop the match from going into the decider.
She won six consecutive games to claim her first title on clay. In the first set as well, she was down 0-2 and later clinched four straight games to take the lead.
In the second set, I just wanted to hold, I just wanted to tell myself to get momentum for the third, because coming into a third like that never feels good. I knew I could break her, too. I honestly didn’t think I was going to break her twice, but luckily, I could play some good tennis.
Jessica Pegula told Tennis Channel
It was Pegula’s fourth final of the season and her second title following the ATX Open. Before entering the Charleston Open, Pegula was defeated in the Miami Open final by Aryna Sabalenka. The 31-year-old has now won 17 of her last 19 matches and will play the Stuttgart Open next.
Jessica Pegula reaches a career-high ranking of World No.3
Pegula toppled Coco Gauff to become the newest World No.3 after her Charleston Open victory. She also replaced the 21-year-old to become the American No.1 player.
Gauff has suffered a dip in her form again and is making the same mistakes. She started the season in an emphatic fashion, winning the United Cup with Team USA, but since her defeat to Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarterfinals, the 2023 US Open champion failed to win more than two matches in the tournaments she played next.
Pegula is more than 1000 points behind second-placed Iga Swiatek. She has to toil hard in tournaments to dethrone World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who sits with 10541 points.
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