US Open 2026: Pegula and Sabalenka Shine, Several Seeds Eliminated

The 2026 US Open is witnessing impressive performances from top players, but also surprises as several seeds were eliminated early. On the third day of play at Flushing Meadows, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula needed just 56 minutes to dispatch fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1, advancing to the third round. Meanwhile, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also cruised past Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in just 54 minutes. However, not everything went smoothly as No. 30 seed Jelena Ostapenko was eliminated, and many matches were disrupted by rain. Pegula, the 2026 US Open runner-up, had a perfect day, surrendering only seven points on serve. She finished with 18 winners against eight unforced errors. Notably, Pegula never faced a break point, improving her career record against Kenin to 5-2. This match was considerably 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. "I knew today was going to be tough. Sonya has given me a lot of trouble in the past," Pegula said. "She's a great player and a champion, so I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do." Pegula broke Kenin for a 3-1 advantage in the opening set and eventually took seven consecutive games spanning the two sets while reaching the third round in New York for the seventh straight year. "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," Pegula said. "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." In the third round, Pegula will face No. 31 Leylah Fernandez of Canada, a matchup of former US Open finalists. Fernandez, the 2026 runner-up, defeated Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, cruised into the third round with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko. The Belarusian star needed only 54 minutes to advance. "I'm happy with my level," Sabalenka said. "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." Sixth-seeded Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic closed the night session with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee. No. 9 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine squandered a match point in the second-set tiebreaker, but she recovered to beat Australia's Maya Joint 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4. No. 14 Iva Jovic completed a delayed first-round match, defeating Poland's Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3. Jovic, 18, recovered from an early deficit in the opening set to close out the straight-sets victory. No. 15 Diana Shnaider defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-6 (4). Shnaider, who reached the French Open semifinals earlier this season, will face Taylor Townsend next after Townsend overwhelmed Australia's Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1. No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova advanced in three sets, beating Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Alexandrova will meet No. 11 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, who eliminated 2026 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. Kostyuk led 6-1, 4-2 before Stephens mounted a second-set comeback and eventually earned a set point opportunity. Kostyuk escaped the danger and won the final three games. "I was a little nervous," Kostyuk said. "I kind of knew what to expect, but I knew she was gonna try to change something. At the same time, I knew how she was playing, and I beat her. But yeah, it's a different tournament; it's a Grand Slam." No. 19 Jasmine Paolini of Italy moved on with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over countrywoman Lucrezia Stefanini. She will next face No. 16 Sorana Cirstea of Romania, a 6-2, 7-5 winner over France's Diane Parry. No. 21 Anna Kalinskaya advanced with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory over China's Wang Xinyu. No. 26 Emma Navarro won an all-American matchup against Caty McNally, rallying for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory. Navarro will meet No. 7 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, who crushed Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour. No. 29 Ann Li pulled out a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Croatia's Donna Vekic. No. 30 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia was the lone 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 Wednesday's schedule, suspending play on outdoor courts while matches continued under the roofs at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Looking back at the day, the dominance of the top players is evident. Pegula and Sabalenka both showed impressive form, not giving their opponents any chance. This indicates they are well-prepared for the long road ahead. However, the exit of Ostapenko is a surprise, showing the fierce competitiveness of the tournament. Additionally, the rain disruption is a factor to consider, as players face a more congested schedule. Tactically, Pegula showed clear improvement in her serving. She aggressively attacked on second serves, which helped her control the match from the start. Sabalenka also displayed confidence and consistency, avoiding many unforced errors. This shows they have learned from past failures and are adopting a smarter approach. Meanwhile, young players like Iva Jovic and Diana Shnaider are proving their maturity. Jovic, only 18, overcame the pressure of a delayed match to win. Shnaider, with her aggressive style, defeated a former world No. 1. This shows the next generation of women's tennis is very promising. However, we must be realistic. The early elimination of several seeds may be due to the small gap in level between players. Ostapenko, despite being a Grand Slam champion, has inconsistent form. Maria, though not highly rated, played a resilient match. This shows that in a Grand Slam, no match is easy. Physically, the rain disruption can affect players' rhythm. Those who have to play multiple matches in a row may struggle to maintain form. However, top players usually have good support teams to handle such situations. Looking ahead, the third round promises exciting matches. Pegula vs Fernandez, two former US Open finalists, is a must-watch. Sabalenka will face an opponent yet to be determined, but with her current form, she is the favorite. Meanwhile, young players like Shnaider and Jovic will have opportunities to showcase themselves against strong opponents. One notable point is the rise of Asian players. Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand played well, though they couldn't win. Wang Xinyu of China also made it difficult for Kalinskaya. This shows Asian tennis is developing strongly and will be a force to reckon with in the future. From a media perspective, the US Open always attracts great attention. The impressive performances of top players will provide more compelling stories. However, the rain disruption is also a challenge for organizers, who must reschedule matches appropriately. Strategically, players need to manage their energy across rounds. Overexerting in early rounds can lead to injuries or fatigue later. Pegula and Sabalenka showed wisdom by winning quickly, saving energy. Moreover, the good performances of young players are a positive sign for world tennis. They bring a fresh breeze with modern play and high confidence. This will create healthy competition, making women's tennis more attractive. However, we must be cautious with predictions. In a Grand Slam, anything can happen. A player can win a match dominantly but lose the next. Therefore, players must maintain high focus in every match. As for Pegula, she has a great chance to win her first Grand Slam title. With her current form, she can definitely do it. However, she will face strong opponents like Sabalenka, Muchova, or Navarro. Every match is a challenge. Sabalenka, with two consecutive titles, is aiming for a historic hat-trick. She is in great form and has a relaxed mindset. If she continues this, she will be the number one contender for the title. Meanwhile, players like Muchova, Navarro, or Shnaider all have the ability to cause surprises. They each have their own style and are in good form. So the tournament is still very unpredictable. Technically, we can see improvement in serving of many players. Pegula and Sabalenka both have powerful and accurate serves. This gives them a big advantage in service games. Additionally, return of serve is crucial, and top players do it very well. Another factor is mental strength. In a Grand Slam, pressure is immense. Players must control their emotions, especially in crucial moments. Kostyuk showed calmness when facing Stephens' comeback. This is very important. Physically, players need to be well-prepared. Playing many consecutive matches can cause fatigue. Therefore, nutrition, rest, and recovery are crucial. Top players usually have nutritionists and physiotherapists to support them. Overall, the 2026 US Open is very exciting. We have seen impressive performances, surprises, and inspiring stories. There is still much to come, and let's wait to see who will lift the trophy. For Vietnamese tennis fans, following Grand Slams is always a passion. Although there are no Vietnamese players participating, we can still learn a lot from the world's top players. Hopefully, in the future, Vietnamese tennis will make great strides. From a media perspective, covering the US Open is also an opportunity to promote tennis to the public. Media channels need to provide accurate, engaging, and in-depth information. This will help fans understand the sport better. Finally, let's look forward to the next matches of the 2026 US Open. With what has happened, there will surely be more surprises and excitement. Let's follow and cheer for our favorite players.