Pegula fights back past Fernandez, keeps World No. 1 race alive

Jessica Pegula didn't need to look at the scoreboard to know how badly she had started. The first set against Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the US Open ended 1-6, and the American admitted she "didn't feel like she was in the match," struggling to "figure out where to serve and where to hit the first ball." But Pegula, who leads the WTA with 11 comeback wins from a set down this season, didn't panic. She won the next two sets 6-4, 6-3, completing the comeback in 2 hours 11 minutes, and more importantly, keeping her World No. 1 hopes alive. This match was not just a victory; it was a signal of how Pegula operates at the decisive stage of the season. At 32, the American is facing the opportunity to win her first Grand Slam title and simultaneously rise to World No. 1, a rare scenario in the modern WTA era. But to understand this journey, one must look at how she handled the match against Fernandez, an opponent she always feels "uncomfortable" playing against. Pegula didn't hide the reason for her poor first set: "I wasn't moving my feet up to the ball and was a little lazy to start off." This is a frank self-assessment, but also an exploitable weakness. Fernandez, the left-hander who reached the 2026 US Open final, capitalized on this sluggishness to apply early pressure. However, the notable aspect was Pegula's adjustment ability. She started moving better, chose smarter serve placements, and gradually regained control of the points. Pegula's comeback statistics this season are staggering: 11 wins from a set down, tied with Coco Gauff and leading the entire WTA. But this number is also a warning. It shows Pegula has a tendency to start slowly, a dangerous habit when facing top players like Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka, who rarely give opponents a chance to come back. The match with Fernandez also revealed a tactically uncomfortable rivalry. Despite leading 4-1 in head-to-head meetings, Pegula admitted: "I always feel like it's really tough to play her. I never feel comfortable when I'm playing her, even when I've won." Fernandez's left-handed game, court coverage, and counterpunching style create a stylistic clash that the head-to-head record doesn't fully capture. Looking ahead, Pegula will face Sorana Cirstea in the fourth round. This is a match with more potential risk than it appears. Cirstea, 36, is having the best season of her career, with her first Roland Garros quarterfinal and multiple Grand Slam second-week appearances. She also just pushed Pegula to three sets in Cincinnati two weeks ago (6-2, 4-6, 7-5). Adding to that, this is Cirstea's final season before retirement, creating a unique emotional motivation. The World No. 1 race narrative adds more pressure on Pegula. She is among four players competing for the top spot after the US Open, and the only path to achieving this goal is winning her first Grand Slam title. At 32, this is a rare historical milestone, but also a significant psychological challenge. Pegula's resilience, shown through 11 comeback wins, is a valuable asset, but it also serves as a reminder that she cannot always rely on saving the situation. The US Open has always been Pegula's favorite Slam. She reached the final in 2026, has made five consecutive second-week appearances at Flushing Meadows. The hard court suits her game, and the North American swing provides optimal preparation. But as she demonstrated against Fernandez, a slow start can turn an easy match into a tense battle. Pegula is facing the biggest opportunity of her career, but she is also confronting a paradox: the more comebacks she makes, the more it shows she needs to fix how she starts matches. If not, one of those comebacks won't materialize, and her US Open story this year will end sooner than expected.