US Open 2026: Pegula and Sabalenka win in a hurry, the numbers speak

When the clock at Arthur Ashe Stadium had just ticked 56 minutes, Jessica Pegula had already advanced to the third round of the 2026 US Open with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over fellow American Sofia Kenin. On the same day, Aryna Sabalenka needed only 54 minutes to crush Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. These numbers not only reflect the power of the two top players but also reveal a notable tactical trend in women's tennis today. The context of the third day of play at Flushing Meadows was not favorable. Heavy rain disrupted the schedule, forcing matches on outdoor courts to be suspended, while the two covered courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, continued to operate. This created a clear disparity: players who got to compete under ideal conditions had a significant physical and mental advantage. Pegula and Sabalenka, both scheduled on Arthur Ashe, maximized this opportunity. Looking at Pegula's match, what impressed was not just the scoreline but how she completely controlled the game. Pegula lost only seven points on her serve, faced no break points, and finished with 18 winners against eight unforced errors. This is a significant improvement compared to their last Grand Slam meeting, when Pegula needed a first-set tiebreak to get past Kenin at the 2026 US Open. The difference lies in how Pegula approached the match: she was more aggressive at the net, especially on second serves, and always tried to place the ball deep into the corners to push Kenin out of her comfort zone. Speaking after the match, Pegula said: "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." Indeed, Kenin, the 2026 Australian Open champion, has been a difficult opponent with her solid baseline game and good movement. But that day, she could not find answers to Pegula's intelligent movement and powerful groundstrokes. Another notable point was the improvement in Pegula's serving. She said: "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 shows that Pegula is not just relying on physicality but also investing heavily in tactics, a crucial factor for maintaining form at Grand Slams. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka continued to show why she is the number one contender for the title. The Belarusian needed only 54 minutes to dismiss Iatcenko, a qualifier. Sabalenka won 6-1, 6-1, barely making any mistakes. She shared: "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." Sabalenka's words show a maturity in her competitive mentality, a factor that helps her handle the pressure of being the defending champion. Apart from the two standout matches, the day saw several other notable results. Elina Svitolina, the 9th seed from Ukraine, had a dramatic match against Maya Joint of Australia. She missed a match point in the second-set tiebreak but then composed herself and won 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Svitolina's resilience was a highlight, showing she remains a tough opponent at major tournaments. Marta Kostyuk, the 11th seed, also had a turbulent match against Sloane Stephens, the 2026 US Open champion. Kostyuk led 6-1, 4-2 before Stephens mounted a strong comeback in the second set and had a set point opportunity. However, Kostyuk escaped the danger and won the final three games to close out the match 6-1, 7-5. She admitted: "I was a little nervous. 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." Kostyuk's caution is understandable, as Stephens is always dangerous on hard courts. Emma Navarro, the 26th seed, staged an impressive comeback against Caty McNally in an all-American match. Navarro lost the first set 3-6 but then won the next two sets 6-2, 6-3 to advance. She will face Karolina Muchova, the 7th seed from the Czech Republic, who just demolished Katie Boulter of Britain 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour. This promises to be a must-watch match in the third round. A major surprise of the day was the elimination of 30th seed Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian, who won the 2026 French Open, lost to Tatjana Maria of Germany 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. This was a shocking result, as Ostapenko was heavily favored. However, her aggressive, inspiration-dependent style could not maintain consistency against a resilient and varied Maria. This defeat shows the unpredictability of women's tennis, where no victory is guaranteed. Meanwhile, young players also impressed. Iva Jovic, 18, completed her delayed first-round match with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Magdalena Frech of Poland. Jovic came back from an early deficit in the first set, showing remarkable composure for a young player. Diana Shnaider, the 15th seed, also overcame former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6(4). Shnaider, who reached the French Open semifinals earlier this season, continues to show impressive form. From a technical standpoint, what interested me most today was how players handled situations when trailing. Looking at Svitolina's match, she had a match point but failed to convert, then lost the tiebreak. However, instead of collapsing, she stood firm and won the third set. This shows the importance of maintaining mental strength in crucial moments. The naked eye only sees the moment of contact, but the referee's eye sees the intent behind the error. In this case, we saw Svitolina's tactical intent as she tried to change the pace of the match with drop shots. Another notable point is the impact of weather conditions. Rain disrupted the schedule, causing many matches to be delayed or moved to covered courts. This could create a physical disparity between players who played early and those who played late. However, both Pegula and Sabalenka showed good adaptability, a key factor for success at Grand Slams. Looking at the overall picture, it is clear that the top group of players is showing a distinct superiority. Pegula, Sabalenka, Svitolina, Kostyuk, Navarro, Muchova... all are in top form. This promises an exciting third round with many high-quality matches. Can Pegula go further than her runner-up finish last year? Can Sabalenka successfully defend her title? These questions will be answered in the coming days. I believe the key to success at this year's US Open lies not only in physical strength or technique but also in the ability to manage pressure and adapt to playing conditions. Players who can maintain high concentration and make the right decisions at critical moments will be the ones who go furthest. Rules are not meant to punish but to ensure the match is not left to chance. In tennis, consistency in play and mentality is the unwritten rule that every player must follow to conquer the summit. The third round of the 2026 US Open is approaching, and matches like Pegula against Leylah Fernandez, Sabalenka against her next opponent, or Svitolina against a player in good form will be performances to watch. With what has been shown, I believe this year's tournament will have many more surprises and drama, and the statistics will continue to be the most accurate measure of players' form.