Pegula and Sabalenka shine as US Open catches up after rain delays

New York, a damp August afternoon – raindrops fell on the Arthur Ashe roof, but inside, the rhythm of the ball remained steady. Standing in the press row, I noted every shot and realized that the third day of the US Open was not just about quick wins, but about patience and quiet adjustments. Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, had just dispatched Sofia Kenin in 56 minutes, 6-3, 6-1. She surrendered only seven points on serve, finished with 18 winners and eight unforced errors. But those numbers don't tell the whole story. On the clay courts of Europe, where I grew up, you learn to read the slow rhythm; here at Flushing Meadows, everything is hurried. Pegula turned that hurry into a weapon. She never faced a break point and improved her head-to-head record against Kenin to 5-2. I recall their meeting in the second round of the 2026 US Open, when she needed a first-set tiebreak to get past the 2026 Australian Open champion. This time, there was no drama. "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." That focus was evident in a run of seven consecutive games spanning both sets. "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," she 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." Pegula will next face No. 31 Leylah Fernandez, the 2026 runner-up, who defeated Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed and two-time defending champion, needed only 54 minutes to rout Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. "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." Sabalenka, with her powerful style, seemed to have found a balance between power and control. She made only three unforced errors in the entire match, a remarkable number for her aggressive game. The night session closed with a 6-4, 6-2 win by No. 6 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee. Elina Svitolina, the No. 9 seed, wasted a match point in the second-set tiebreaker but recovered to beat Maya Joint of Australia 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4. Iva Jovic, 18, completed a delayed first-round match, defeating Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3. Diana Shnaider, the No. 15 seed, defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 7-6(4). She will face Taylor Townsend, who overwhelmed Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1. No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova advanced in three sets, beating Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. She will meet No. 11 Marta Kostyuk, who eliminated 2026 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 7-5. Kostyuk led 6-1, 4-2 before Stephens mounted a comeback and earned a set point opportunity, but Kostyuk escaped and won the final three games. "I was a little nervous," Kostyuk admitted. "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 moved on with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over compatriot Lucrezia Stefanini. She will face No. 16 Sorana Cirstea, a 6-2, 7-5 winner over Diane Parry. No. 21 Anna Kalinskaya advanced with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Wang Xinyu. No. 26 Emma Navarro won an all-American matchup against Caty McNally, rallying for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory. She will meet No. 7 Karolina Muchova, who crushed 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 Donna Vekic. The lone seeded woman eliminated on Wednesday was No. 30 Jelena Ostapenko, as Tatjana Maria rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory. Rain disrupted much of Wednesday's schedule, but matches on covered courts continued. I watched the young players and thought of Pegula's words: "I'm going pretty big on second serves." That's not just a tactic; it's maturity. In a major tournament, where pressure weighs heavily, the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference. I remember my days in Westchester, where I learned to listen to the breathing of players before they served. Here in New York, that pulse still echoes, but faster, more intense. And I understand that under the stadium lights, no one can be perfect, but they can find their own balance. That's what I record, not just with numbers, but with stories.