Pegula and Sabalenka Shine as US Open Sees a Day of Surprises

In just 56 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Jessica Pegula turned her match against Sofia Kenin into a one-sided exhibition. The American third seed surrendered only seven points on serve, hit 18 winners and committed just eight unforced errors, closing out a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the 2026 Australian Open champion. This is the seventh consecutive year Pegula has reached the third round at Flushing Meadows, and she will face Leylah Fernandez, the 2026 runner-up, who also advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion, also needed little time to dispatch qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in just 54 minutes. "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," Sabalenka said. The third day of the US Open saw several notable results. Linda Noskova, the sixth seed from the Czech Republic, defeated Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand 6-4, 6-2. Elina Svitolina, the ninth seed from Ukraine, despite missing a match point in the second-set tiebreak, overcame Maya Joint of Australia 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Iva Jovic, the 18-year-old American talent, completed a delayed first-round match, beating Magdalena Frech of Poland 7-5, 6-3. Diana Shnaider, the 15th seed, defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6(4). She will face Taylor Townsend, who overwhelmed Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1. Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 18th seed, advanced in three sets over Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, and will meet Marta Kostyuk, the 11th seed, who eliminated 2026 champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. Kostyuk led 6-1, 4-2 before Stephens mounted a comeback and earned a set point opportunity, but Kostyuk escaped and won the final three games. Jasmine Paolini, the 19th seed, beat compatriot Lucrezia Stefanini 6-4, 6-1, and will face Sorana Cirstea, the 16th seed, who defeated Diane Parry 6-2, 7-5. Anna Kalinskaya, the 21st seed, advanced with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 win over Wang Xinyu of China. Emma Navarro, the 26th seed, won an all-American match against Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and will meet Karolina Muchova, the seventh seed, who crushed Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour. Ann Li, the 29th seed, edged Donna Vekic 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4. Jelena Ostapenko, the 30th seed, was the only seeded woman eliminated on Wednesday, as Tatjana Maria rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory. Rain disrupted much of the schedule, suspending play on outdoor courts while matches continued under the roofs at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong. This created a disparity in rest time between players, a factor that could affect fitness and morale in later rounds. Looking at the bigger picture, one interesting thing is that Pegula, who reached the final last year, is showing remarkable growth in her serving. She said: "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, so really excited when I can practice something, and it pays off in the match." Data shows Pegula only lost seven points on serve, an impressive number that reflects confidence and precision. There are data that don't need to be loud, just someone patient enough to read them. However, there is a counterintuitive angle: while everyone focuses on Sabalenka's power, it is Pegula's quiet improvement that is truly formidable. She is no longer a player who relies only on consistency, but has learned to finish points proactively. This could make a difference in later rounds. People look at the rankings; I look at what the rankings hide. For Sabalenka, she is showing a new philosophy: not trying to be perfect, but accepting what she has and making the most of it. This could help her relieve pressure and play more freely. It's a subtle change but could be highly effective. This US Open has seen the emergence of many young players, like 18-year-old Iva Jovic, and the stability of veterans like Svitolina. Rain may disrupt the schedule, but it doesn't diminish the tournament's appeal. Based on my experience following matches, I've noticed that players who can adapt to weather conditions and congested schedules often have a big advantage. The match between Pegula and Kenin was not just an easy win, but a signal that Pegula has learned how to handle opponents who have troubled her before. In their meeting at the 2026 US Open, Pegula needed a first-set tiebreak to get past Kenin. This time, she controlled the match completely, not facing a single break point. The difference comes from her serving and her proactive play. As for Sabalenka, she has an impressive streak in New York. Since winning in 2026, she has lost only one match at Flushing Meadows. Her confidence is what opponents fear. However, she also admitted that not trying to be perfect helps her play more relaxed, and that could be the key to defending her title. Meanwhile, the emergence of Iva Jovic, 18, is a bright spot. She came through qualifying and beat a higher-ranked player. This shows the depth of American tennis, which always produces young talents. Rain can be an annoyance, but it also creates opportunities for players who can use the break to recover. Those with good medical teams and fitness management will have an advantage. Finally, the diversity of countries represented in the third round is notable: USA, Belarus, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Italy, Romania, Russia, China, etc. This shows that women's tennis is becoming more globalized, and no single country dominates. What impressed me most today was how Pegula handled her match with Kenin. She didn't rush, but patiently built points, waiting for opportunities to finish. That's a rare maturity. I remember last year, when she reached the final, she was often impatient. Now, she is different. Perhaps the loss in last year's final taught her a valuable lesson. And that's something the rankings can't show. I have followed many US Opens, and I've noticed that players who can maintain their composure during rain delays often go deep. That's why I appreciate Svitolina's performance, who overcame a tense match with many fluctuations. She has not only technique but also mental strength. Rebellion doesn't have to be loud; sometimes it's quietly rearranging the numbers. Can Pegula go further than last year? Can Sabalenka complete a hat-trick? These questions will be answered in the coming days. But one thing is certain: the American hard courts are always a place where surprises and top performances are celebrated. And as I often say, elite sport is the art of repetition – and the breaking of repetition.