“It wasn’t really like super intention as far as like I wasn’t necessarily working on it,” Pegula clarified. “I’m always working a little bit on placement and getting my serve bigger, but it kind of just happened naturally with all the stuff that we’ve been working on. I haven’t really changed much, to be honest, as far as using my legs or my motion. It’s really more just, I think, using my hand. And I have a pretty live arm. And so I’ve always thought my serve could be much bigger for my size, because with my arm being pretty live for all tall I am.
“So, I’ve always kind of been like, ‘Why isn’t my serve bigger?’ So, we’ve had to figure out certain ways to kind of tap into that. And, yeah, I don’t know. It’s worked, I guess.”
As she closes in on a second straight title in Charleston, Pegula is optimistic she has one more match in her, one that would cap off an impressive—if at times effortful—start to her clay-court season.
“I definitely try to use my experience, and I think that is something that can’t necessarily be taught. That’s something that you have to go through, and I’ve definitely gone through a lot and gained so much experience and try to use it as a confidence boost, not so much as a negative thing.”
Pegula and Starodubtseva will face off earlier than expected due to the inclement weather forecasted in Charleston, scheduled for not before 1PM, local time.
