Ukrainian tennis player Julia Starodubtseva has advanced to her first WTA semifinal at the Charleston Open in the United States. This achievement marks a significant milestone in her career as she aims for her fourth consecutive victory in the tournament.
Starodubtseva faced American player McCartney Kessler, currently ranked 53rd in the world. The two athletes had previously met three times, with Kessler winning their last two encounters. The match began with both players exchanging breaks of serve, but Starodubtseva gained the upper hand by breaking Kessler’s serve again in the seventh game, taking a 4-3 lead. She then won three consecutive games, allowing her to serve for the set at 5-4, which she closed out with a commanding game.
In the second set, Kessler started strong, quickly leading 2-0. However, Starodubtseva responded with a run of four consecutive games, seizing control of the match. Although she missed her first match point at 5-3, she successfully closed the match on her next serve, winning both sets 6-4.
“Honestly, I have no words. I was initially supposed to play in the qualifiers, but I was fortunate to make it into the main draw. I am just happy to be here and to take every opportunity I had this week,” Starodubtseva stated after the match, according to Ukrainian Tennis.
The victory signifies several important milestones for Starodubtseva:
- This is her first time reaching a semifinal at the WTA level. Previously, she had reached the quarterfinals four times but had never progressed further.
- As a result of her performance in Charleston, she has climbed to 62nd place in the WTA rankings, setting a new personal best. She started the week ranked 89th.
- In the upcoming semifinal, Starodubtseva will face the tournament’s fifth seed, American Madison Keys, marking their first meeting on the court.
Julia Starodubtseva's victory at the Charleston Open marks her first WTA semifinal appearance, elevating her ranking and setting the stage for a match against Madison Keys.