Jessica Pegula got her US Open campaign underway on Sunday with a straight-sets win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The third-ranked American squandered her first nine break points to Ruse before settling in, wrapping up the match 6-3, 6-2 in 83 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the tournament’s opening match.
2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula is this year’s first winner on Ashe! pic.twitter.com/EE3cUIqB3L
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2026
A Rough Start
Pegula saved the only break point she faced on her own serve but showed some nerves herself, converting just two of her 14 break-point chances in the opener.
From there she settled in, going 2-for-4 on break chances in the second set and closing out the match by winning 92 percent of her first-serve points.
“I was so nervous,” she said, adding that she was texting friends GIFs of people freaking out while she waited to go out.
“It was a rare honor to get the first match on Ashe” she said
2026 season and What next
It’s been a big season for Pegula, who leads the WTA tour with 46 wins this year and has two titles and three other final appearances, including a runner-up finish to Coco Gauff at the Cincinnati Open just weeks before arriving in New York.
Pegula awaits her second round opponent as Venus Williams will face fellow wild card Sofia Kenin later in the Sunday night session at Ashe
