Pegula Blitzes in 56 Minutes, Sabalenka Continues Dominance at US Open

New York – When the clock at Arthur Ashe Stadium showed just 56 minutes, Jessica Pegula had already completed her task. The American third seed needed exactly the duration of a long tennis set to dispatch her compatriot Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1, securing a spot in the third round of this year's US Open. The 56-minute figure is not just a dry statistic; it reflects a near-perfect performance in terms of tactics and psychology against an opponent who has caused her trouble in the past. The context of this match was far from simple. Kenin, the 2026 Australian Open champion, has always been an unpredictable player with a varied game and fierce fighting spirit. In their last Grand Slam meeting, Pegula had to survive a tense first-set tiebreak to advance. But today, everything was different. Pegula lost only seven points on her serve, hit 18 winners while committing just eight unforced errors. She never faced a break point, a telling number about her solidity in both defense and attack. What made the difference? Looking at how Pegula handled her second serves, the improvement is clear. She said after the match: "I'm going pretty big on second serves, I'm trying to mix up where I'm going and just trust that I can hit good serves in the moment. That's been a lot of work we've done off the court." Instead of choosing the safe option, Pegula actively attacked from the second serve, putting pressure on her opponent from the very start of the point. This prevented Kenin from implementing her preferred style. Not only Pegula, but the women's tennis world also witnessed an impressive performance from Aryna Sabalenka. The top seed and two-time defending champion needed just 54 minutes to defeat Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. Sabalenka showed rare composure: "I'm happy with my level. I've been working really hard, but I feel like I'm kind of moving away from trying to be perfect on court. I know that you cannot be perfect, and I'm just trying to work with what I have right now." This mental maturity could be the key to her successful title defense. However, this US Open is not only about easy victories. 30th seed Jelena Ostapenko, the 2026 French Open champion, became the only seeded woman to be eliminated on the third day of play. She lost to Germany's Tatjana Maria 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. This is a major upset, showing the tournament's intensity. Meanwhile, ninth seed Elina Svitolina survived a tense match, saving a match point in the second-set tiebreak before overcoming Maya Joint 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Another highlight was the emergence of young players. Iva Jovic, 18, completed her rain-delayed first-round match, defeating Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3. Diana Shnaider, the 15th seed, overcame former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6(4). These performances show that the next generation is ready to cause upsets. From a data perspective, an interesting point: Pegula improved her head-to-head record against Kenin to 5-2. But this number does not fully reflect the difficulty she has faced. In the past, Kenin always knew how to drag Pegula into long battles where consistency was tested. Today, Pegula broke that pattern by attacking from the start, not giving her opponent a chance to settle. This is a smart tactical shift, showing her growth as a player. However, one must be cautious. The quick victory over Kenin does not guarantee an easy path ahead. In the third round, she will face Leylah Fernandez, the 2026 US Open runner-up. Fernandez just defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1 and always plays well at Flushing Meadows. This will be a real test for Pegula, who reached the final last year but lost to Sabalenka. Can she maintain the same focus and efficiency? The answer lies in her ability to adapt to Fernandez's lefty forehand. Rain disrupted the schedule on outdoor courts, but matches at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong continued under roofs. This creates a disparity in playing conditions, potentially affecting players' fitness and rhythm. Those who have to play multiple matches in a short period will be at a disadvantage. This is a factor analysts must consider when predicting results in the coming rounds. Another notable point is the rise of Eastern European players. Linda Noskova, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, and Diana Shnaider are all in good form. Kostyuk eliminated Sloane Stephens, the 2026 champion, 6-1, 7-5 after nearly being overturned in the second set. She admitted: "I was a little nervous, but I knew she was gonna try to change something. This is a Grand Slam; everything is different." Composure in crucial moments will be key. Tactically, Pegula has shown a lesson in maximizing serve points. Her boldness in hitting big on second serves not only earned direct points but also made her opponent hesitant, creating more attacking opportunities. This is an evolution from her previously safe style. If she maintains this, Pegula can dream of her first Grand Slam title. However, one must be objective: the win over Kenin, though impressive, is still just a second-round match. The real challenges will come in the third round, fourth round, and beyond. Sabalenka remains the top contender with her overwhelming power. Players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek (if they advance) are also formidable opponents. Pegula must maintain high focus and avoid complacency. Finally, what makes this US Open so exciting is its unpredictability. Rain disrupted the schedule, young players are rising, and former champions are being eliminated early. All this creates a colorful picture. With what they have shown, Pegula and Sabalenka are proving to be the strongest candidates. But in tennis, everything can change in just one game. Let's see if these stars can maintain their form to lift the trophy at Flushing Meadows.