Sunday Championship Round-Up: Jessica Pegula Defends Charleston Title as Rafael Jodar and Tommy Paul Secure Clay Court Glory

Jessica Pegula retains her Charleston crown as Rafael Jodar and Tommy Paul secure historic clay titles. Get the full round-up of prize money and ranking shifts.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 4:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

Pegula’s Masterclass in Charleston

World number 5 Jessica Pegula delivered a flawless performance on home soil to successfully defend her Charleston Open title. Facing Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva—who was competing in her first major WTA Tour final—Pegula utilized her trademark defensive precision to secure a 6-2, 6-2 victory. The win was particularly lucrative for the American, as she collected a prize windfall of $354,345, more than double the amount she received for winning the same event last year. While the victory solidifies Pegula’s status at the top of the women's game, Starodubtseva’s breakthrough week sees her leap 36 places to a career-high world number 53.

Tommy Paul’s Resilient Houston Victory

In Houston, Tommy Paul demonstrated elite mental toughness by saving three match points to defeat Argentina’s Roman Burruchaga. Paul was on the verge of defeat at 5-3 in the deciding set but managed to win four consecutive games to take the match 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. This victory marks Paul’s first career title on a clay court, making him one of the few active players to have secured titles on all three major surfaces: clay, hard courts, and grass. Along with 250 ranking points, Paul earned the $106,460 top prize, further establishing his versatility as the European clay swing begins.

Rafael Jodar’s Historic Breakthrough in Marrakech

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar capped off a meteoric rise by claiming his first ATP Tour title at the Grand Prix Hassan II. The 19-year-old defeated veteran Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 in a final that highlighted a significant generational gap. Jodar’s ascent in the professional rankings has been extraordinary; ranked outside the top 900 just one year ago, he started 2026 at world number 168 and will debut at world number 57 this Monday. The Spaniard earned €93,175 for his efforts in Morocco, signaling the arrival of a major new talent from the Spanish tennis pipeline.