Sawt Falasteen - Pegula reaches WTA Charleston semis with latest three-setter

Defending champion Pegula has lost the first set in all three matches so far, but again dug deep to maintain her hopes of retaining the title.

The world number five from the United States took two hours and 10 minutes to defeat 19th-ranked Shnaider, relying on a formidable service game that included eight aces.

Shnaider battled well in the first two sets, and broke early for a 2-0 lead in the final set, before losing six straight games.

Pegula, chasing her second tournament victory of the year after winning the title in Dubai in February, will face the winner of the quarter-final between fourth-seeded fellow American Iva Jovic and Russian Anna Kalinskaya.

Swiss third seed Belinda Bencic and fifth-seeded American Madison Keys are among the possible final opponents lurking on the other side of the draw.

Despite a first-round bye, Pegula has clocked up nine sets and more than seven hours on court so far. She has won nine of 10 matches this year that have gone to a deciding third set.

K.AbuDahab--SF-PST