Can the Ukrainian woman upset Keys and break through the first American defense line, then challenge Pegula in the final and go all the way as a dark horse?

After the two women's singles semifinals in Charleston, Ukrainian player Starodubtseva unexpectedly became the spotlight heroine, stealing much of Pegula's attention.

When she faced American star Keys in the semifinals, many worried beforehand that the Ukrainian player might fall into the encirclement of American players and likely struggle to break through this American defense line, potentially turning the Charleston final into an all-American showdown. Because the two semifinalists from the other half, Pegula and Jovic, are both Americans; regardless of who ultimately wins, an American player was already guaranteed to reach the final.

However, some held a different view, not believing Starodubtseva was absolutely disadvantaged against Keys. The reason is simple: in the quarterfinals, the American star faced Bencic and won a reversal victory with immense effort. Keys' form has been mediocre since the new season began; she barely improved in Charleston and just endured a grueling match. Now facing a Ukrainian player ten years younger, physical stamina would be a major concern Keys must confront.

When their match began, the skeptics were unfortunately proven right. Starodubtseva was not disadvantaged but quickly suppressed Keys.

Whether due to a slow start or unrecovered stamina, the American star displayed almost no fighting power against Starodubtseva, swept 6-1 in the first set by the Ukrainian player.

Though pushed to the brink, Keys adjusted her form in the second set and seemed capable of battling Starodubtseva, yet ultimately lost 4-6, barred from the final by the Ukrainian player.

Starodubtseva will face another American star, Pegula, in the final, joked by outsiders as another battle to break through American encirclement!

In this match between the wealthy American woman and her compatriot youngster Jovic, Pegula was also a worry before the game. Like Keys, people feared her stamina might hinder her, leading to a upset by 18-year-old Jovic.

Pegula's Charleston title defense this year has been quite turbulent. From her first defense match to meeting Jovic, she advanced entirely through reversals, winning perilously and arduously.

Precisely because of this, facing Jovic who easily advanced by sweeping Russian beauty Kalinskaya in two sets, people were concerned about the wealthy American woman.

Moreover, Jovic reaching the Charleston 500 semifinals marks her career's first such height on clay, a significant breakthrough. Additionally, in their first encounter this year at Dubai 1000, Jovic was brutally swept by Pegula, losing all dignity. Driven by both desire for further breakthrough and revenge, naturally the youthful and capable Jovic posed an added threat.

Seeing Pegula appear fatigued in the first set, quickly falling behind 0-3, many believed the wealthy American woman would likely be avenged by Jovic.

Surprisingly, under such pressure and extreme passivity, Jovic's aggressive momentum not only didn't crush Pegula but instead ignited the wealthy American woman's high fighting spirit, winning three consecutive games to tie the score.

When both displayed fierce warrior spirit reaching 4-4, people thought a first-set tiebreak was highly likely if they continued this fiery clash. Unexpectedly, before words settled, Pegula seized the initiative by winning two straight games to take the set 6-4.

From holding a favorable position in the first set to eventually losing all advantage and conceding the set, such outcome clearly displeased Jovic. At a crucial moment in the second set, the American youngster directly emulated her elder Pegula, delivering a fatal blow to Pegula, winning 7-5 to level the match.

Jovic disappointingly failed to extend the dominance shown in the second set to the decider, instead appearing collapsed. From trailing 2-4 at the start to ultimately surrendering the match 3-6, she didn't exhibit the youthful vigor expected of a young player.

Having played four consecutive matches all lasting three sets, each harder than the previous, many worry whether Pegula in the final might pave the way for Starodubtseva, letting her become Charleston's proudest achiever this year.

Currently, many outsiders predicting the final frankly say if Pegula, exhausted like this, still successfully defends her title, it would be absolutely admirable, garnering a wave of new fans.

Of course, people also wonder if the Ukrainian player can seize Pegula's immense physical exhaustion opportunity, ultimately go all the way as a dark horse to win the title. Under the collective siege by American players in Charleston, after breaking through Keys' defense line, she might crash through Pegula's final hard wall.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Moon River's Sky)