Pegula beats Kenin 6-3, 6-1

Jessica Pegula moved into the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Sofia Kenin in 56 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. 3 seed was one of the few players to get through her match quickly on a day when rain again disrupted the schedule at Flushing Meadows. Pegula’s victory came in an all-American meeting against Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Ben Shelton also advanced on the men’s side as play was repeatedly interrupted elsewhere on the grounds. ### How one-sided was Pegula’s win over Kenin? The 56-minute match was among the cleanest early-round performances of the women’s draw on September 2. Pegula won 6-3, 6-1 and never let Kenin establish pressure on return. (msn.com) Reuters reported that Pegula dropped only three of her first-serve points and did not face a break point. The official U.S. Open match report also described the performance as straight-sets and emphatic, with Pegula moving quickly through the opening match of the day. (msn.com) ### What stood out in Pegula’s level? Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted the first match of the day, and Pegula set the tone immediately with efficient serving and short points. Reuters described her performance as “finely tuned,” while WTA coverage said she reached the U.S. Open third round for the seventh straight year. (usopen.org) WTA said Pegula improved to 5-2 against Kenin with the win. The same report noted that their earlier meetings had been much tighter, making Wednesday’s straight-set result their most lopsided matchup. ### Why did the timing of the win matter on this day? (wtatennis.com) Rain delays shaped much of the tournament’s fourth day in New York. The Associated Press reported that players across the grounds were still trying to finish first-round matches even as parts of the second round were underway. (wtatennis.com) Pegula said she was glad to be through quickly at a tournament where the weather had already created backups, according to AP and ESPN reports. Her match finished before many others could get properly underway. (msn.com) ### Where does this leave Pegula in the draw? The U.S. Open’s official report said Pegula advanced to face Leylah Fernandez in the third round. Reuters also identified Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist, as Pegula’s next opponent. (msn.com) WTA said Pegula entered the tournament with a chance to rise to world No. 1 if she wins her first Grand Slam title and Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals. That ranking scenario remained alive after the Kenin win. (usopen.org) ### Who else advanced as play continued? Ben Shelton advanced on the same rain-hit day, according to AP’s day-four roundup. Alex Michelsen also reached the third round with a straight-sets win over Brandon Nakashima. (wtatennis.com) September 2 play continued into the evening with other top names still on the schedule, including defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, ESPN reported. Pegula, by then, had already finished her work and moved on to the next round. (msn.com) The third round now sets Pegula against Fernandez at Flushing Meadows, with the winner moving into the second week of the year’s final Grand Slam. (usopen.org) (espn.com)