“My win of the day,” Jessica Pegula humorously wrote to Aryna Sabalenka on Instagram days ago, following the Miami Open final. The context? Sabalenka took home the Miami Open title, but Pegula stole the show by swiping her Margarita during a post-match interview! That night in Miami didn’t go Pegula’s way, but she took it on the chin and remained ever so gracious in defeat, keeping her sense of humor intact. And finally, in Charleston yesterday, the 31-year-old got her own sweet taste of victory. Literally!

On Sunday, Pegula defeated 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin at the Charleston Open in her fourth finals appearance of the season. It was the first all-American final in Charleston in 35 years. Pegula battled back from four games down to clinch a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

But there was more to celebrate! In her post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Pegula was presented with her own winner’s cocktail! It seemed like a fitting celebration as she clinked glasses with the interviewers, saying “cheers to our champion” while sipping the purple cocktail.

Pegula had playfully swiped the personalized drink made for Sabalenka during the Miami Open, humorously called Marg-Aryna, noting she needed to “take something” from the Belarusian. Now, she was getting her own moment and her own drink! The 30-year-old even addressed that viral moment with Aryna Sabalenka after her first-round win at Charleston.

“I had to take something from her. She’s taken three first-place trophies from me, like come on. I can take her Margarita. Enough of her girl chunky, her Margarita, winning every match like common. This is ridiculous. But I know she’s also very outgoing and goofy, so I thought it fit the moment,” Pegula said.

When asked about the taste of Sabalenka’s drink, the American cheekily added, “Wasn’t bad, had a nice tahini salt rim, that was nice, I enjoyed that.” Now that she’s got her own winner’s drink, does it taste sweeter? Only Jessica can answer that!

The Miami Open runner-up has now won 17 of her last 19 matches, boosting herself to the third spot in the WTA rankings, overtaking compatriot Coco Gauff. The last time Pegula was at the No.3 position in the world rankings was on October 24, 2022. Now, three years later, she’s bagging titles, making finals, and sipping margaritas! It wasn’t an easy journey for Jess.

Jessica Pegula on the hardships of winning the Charleston Open

Jessica Pegula’s journey to the Charleston final was nothing short of remarkable, marking her fourth title match of 2025. Despite feeling drained, having played 10 matches in just over two weeks, Pegula’s resilience shone through. “Of course I’m tired,” she confessed after her semifinal win over Ekaterina Alexandrova. “The tank is running a bit low emotionally and physically.”

Pegula’s path to the final included a tough battle against Alexandrova, where she came back from being down 2-4 in the third set to win 7-5. She also ousted defending champion Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals, a match that left her feeling particularly exhausted.

Additionally, Sofia Kenin had been on a roll ahead of the final, eliminating top seeds like Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina, but Pegula’s determination paid off as she won 6-3, 7-5. She was ready to give it her all, as she added after the semis, “I’m happy to be in the final. I’ll rest as much as I can and give my best.”

This victory not only earned Pegula her first clay court title but also helped her become the top-ranked American player. Her season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but she’s proving to be a fighter, winning 78% of her deciding sets.

As she heads into the clay season, Pegula’s consistency will be crucial. Will she enhance her collection of titles even further? Share your thoughts in the comments below.