Pegula and Sabalenka Shine at US Open: Numbers That Speak

56 minutes. That's all Jessica Pegula needed to turn her reunion with Sofia Kenin into a one-sided performance at the 2026 US Open. That number not only reflects the dominance in the scoreline but also reveals a completely different Pegula from the runner-up image of last year. On Arthur Ashe Stadium, the American No. 3 seed conceded only seven points on serve, hit 18 winners, and made just eight unforced errors. She never faced a break point and improved her head-to-head record against Kenin to 5-2. This match was far less competitive than their previous Grand Slam meeting, when Pegula needed a first-set tiebreak to get past the 2026 Australian Open champion in the second round of the 2026 US Open. The context of this year's tournament is particularly unique as heavy rain disrupted the schedule on outdoor courts, forcing matches to be concentrated on the two covered arenas, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong. This created a physical and mental challenge for the players, but the top stars showed meticulous preparation. Pegula, who reached the final last year and lost to Aryna Sabalenka, displayed a completely different face in her match against Kenin. She shared: "I knew today was going to be tough. Sonya has given me a lot of trouble in the past. She's a great player and a champion, so I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do." Pegula's tactical highlight came from her aggressive serving. She revealed: "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." This confidence was evident as Pegula broke Kenin's serve to lead 3-1 in the first set, then won seven consecutive games to close out the match quickly. This is the seventh straight year she has reached the third round at Flushing Meadows, a remarkably consistent achievement. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1 seed and two-time defending champion, also didn't expend much energy to advance to the third round. She needed only 54 minutes to defeat Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with her level: "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 calm and wisdom shows a more mature Sabalenka, no longer burdened by the pressure to prove herself at every moment. Other matches of the day also witnessed notable results. Linda Noskova, the No. 6 seed from Czech Republic, closed the night session with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand. Elina Svitolina, the No. 9 seed from Ukraine, saved a match point in the second-set tiebreaker and eventually overcame Maya Joint of Australia 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Iva Jovic, the 18-year-old American, completed her delayed first-round match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Poland's Magdalena Frech, recovering from an early deficit in the opening set. Diana Shnaider, the No. 15 seed, defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6(4). Shnaider, who reached the French Open semifinals earlier this season, will face Taylor Townsend in the next round. Townsend had an impressive day, overwhelming Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1. Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No. 18 seed, needed three sets to get past Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, and will meet Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the third round. Kostyuk eliminated 2026 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. The match was dramatic as Stephens mounted a comeback in the second set and had a set point opportunity, but Kostyuk escaped and won the final three games. Jasmine Paolini, the No. 19 seed from Italy, moved into the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 win over compatriot Lucrezia Stefanini. She will face Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who beat Diane Parry 6-2, 7-5. Anna Kalinskaya, the No. 21 seed, advanced past Wang Xinyu of China 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. Emma Navarro, the No. 26 seed, staged an impressive comeback to beat Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an all-American affair. Navarro will meet Karolina Muchova, the No. 7 seed from Czech Republic, who crushed Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour. Ann Li, the No. 29 seed, edged past Donna Vekic of Croatia 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-4 in a long match. Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia was the only seeded woman eliminated on Wednesday. Germany's Tatjana Maria rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over the former French Open champion in first-round action. Rain disrupted much of the schedule, but players maintained high concentration. From a data perspective, an interesting point emerges: while Pegula and Sabalenka completed their matches in under an hour, many other players had to endure long, tense battles. This highlights the difference in class and preparation among title contenders. However, it's also worth noting that rain delays can affect players' rhythm in later rounds. A more congested schedule than usual could pose a significant physical challenge. A contrarian view: many often say that top players have an advantage when playing on covered center courts, but in reality, waiting due to rain can disrupt focus. Both Pegula and Sabalenka had short matches, but they could also be affected by delays between sets if matches were postponed. However, both showed great adaptability, and that makes the difference. Ultimately, this year's US Open is witnessing a strong return of veteran players and the rise of young talents. But as Pegula demonstrated, consistency and the ability to control matches through aggressive serving will be key to going far. Sabalenka, with her relaxed mindset and brilliant form, remains the top favorite for the title. Numbers don't lie: 56 minutes, 54 minutes, 7 points lost on serve, 18 winners – all point to the stars gradually shaping the race at Flushing Meadows this year.