Jessica Pegula wasted little time in booking her spot in the third round of the US Open, needing just 56 minutes to dispatch compatriot Sofia Kenin in straight sets. 

Pegula, who is aiming to lift her first grand slam title, produced a statement display at Flushing Meadows with an impressive 6-3 6-1 win to seal a date with Leylah Fernandez. 

The third seed started as she meant to go on by breaking Kenin in the opening game of the match, and from there she never looked like relinquishing her grip on the encounter. 

Another break of serve at the end of the first set saw Pegula edge closer to victory, but instead of resting on her advantage, she produced an even more ruthless second set. 

Pegula reeled off the first five games, while also missing three break points, to put the result beyond doubt, though Kenin did salvage some pride by holding in the sixth game. 

But there was to be no comeback, with Pegula sealing her progression with a love service game, and she acknowledged the quality of her play in her post-match interview. 

"Every match we've played throughout the years has been very tough," Pegula said. "Sofia's given me a lot of trouble in the past, she's a great player and a champion.

"I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do, and luckily was able to be pretty efficient out there today."

Setting the pace

A tour-leading 46th win of the season for @JPegula as she defeats Kenin 6-3 6-1#USOpen pic.twitter.com/yABLozrvez

— wta (@WTA) September 2, 2026

Pegula will be joined in round three by Jasmine Paolini, who also produced an equally dominant display against another Italian player in Lucrezia Stefanini. 

Paolini has never gone beyond the fourth round at the US Open, but she edged closer to equalling her best run achieved in 2024 with a 6-4 6-1 triumph. 

She will face Sorana Cirstea in the next round after she downed Diane Parry in straight sets in her second-round clash. 

Pegula's charge for US Open glory continues

Having come close to the US Open crown two years ago, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the final, Pegula has been on an impressive run, and it is often on American soil where she produces her best stuff, and that was certainly on show here. 

Pegula has now won 22 of her last 25 meetings against compatriots, only losing to Coco Gauff in that span (Wuhan 2025, Wimbledon and Cincinnati 2026), while she has now emerged victorious in five of her seven career meetings with Kenin. 

She also claimed her 25th win at the US Open, her highest career tally at a single WTA level event, while since 2020, Pegula has reached the round of 32 in each of the seven editions at Flushing Meadows, with Iga Swiatek, who faces Nadia Podoroska next, the only other player who could also achieve that. 

A woman from the United States has not won the US Open since Gauff did so in 2023, but based on this performance, Pegula will fancy her chances of adding her name to that list and, more importantly, claiming a first major title.