U.S. Open Day Four Recap: Pegula Continues Summer Surge As She Reaches Third Round
American Jessica Pegula continues to thrive on the hard courts this summer as the sixth-seed defeated her compatriot Sofia Kenin 7-6(4), 6-3 in the U.S. Open second round on Thursday.
Fresh off her title in Montreal and runner-up showing in Cincinatti, Pegula has won her first two matches in New York, and has now won 11 of her last 12 matches.
“I think I started serving a little better,” Pegula said of what changes from set one to set two. “I thought I served pretty well in the moments that I had to. I knew I was right there and had chances to break. She’s really tough. She’s a good returner. When she’s hitting her shots and getting really good depth, it makes it really hard.”
After coming through the first set in a tiebreaker, Pegula committed fewer unforced errors and was able to break Kenin twice.
In the third round, Pegula will face off against Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who upended 31st seed Katie Boulter 7-5, 7-5.
Fellow American Ashlyn Krueger continued her best major run to date with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over 21st seed Mirra Andreeva.
Pegula was asked about Krueger in her post-match press conference:
“[It’s] so nice to see her, one, get through that first round. I was watching. I know it was probably pretty nerve-racking for her. I guess her first main draw win, which I didn’t realize,” said Pegula. “Then seeing her play well today, I knew she had a good chance. She has a big game.”
Krueger plays 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova next.
