Key Takeaways
- Jessica Pegula rallied from a set down to defeat Leylah Fernandez 1-6 6-4 6-3 in the third round of the US Open.
- Pegula admitted she had to “dig deep” after a difficult start where she felt “a little lazy” with her footwork and struggled with serve placement.
- To manage fatigue and tension during intense second-set games, Pegula relied on breathing, hydration, ice towels and focus on her serve.
Jessica Pegula navigates difficult third-round challenge in New York
Jessica Pegula overcame a sluggish start to secure a spot in the round of 16 at the US Open, battling past Canadian Leylah Fernandez 1-6 6-4 6-3. Competing in the third round in New York, the American found herself under immediate pressure against an opponent who consistently presents tricky tactical hurdles.
Reflecting right after the match on how she managed to script the turnaround, Pegula acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup. “I’m not sure. Um, it was really tough today. I always feel like it’s really hard to play her. I never feel comfortable when I’m playing her, even when I’ve won,” Pegula said during her on-court interview. “So, I knew today, especially with the way I started, I just I was going to have to dig deep. So, really glad I was able to find something there, especially in the second set to turn it around. Um, but yeah, she’s a great player, so it was really hard.”
Overcoming delivery struggles and finding rhythm
The match swung as Pegula began to address her early inconsistencies, particularly on delivery and footwork. After Fernandez raced through the opening set, Pegula pinpointed the exact areas where her execution had lagged behind.
“I mean, I think a lot of it revolves on my serve. I think my serve percentage was pretty bad,” Pegula explained when asked about the adjustments needed to reset during a slow opening. “I don’t really feel like I was in the first set like figuring out where I was going to serve and where I was going to hit the first ball.”
Beyond the serve, Fernandez presented tactical looks that differed from their previous meetings, requiring Pegula to push herself physically. “I do think she played a little bit different today than I played her in the past. So, I just wasn’t quite moving my feet up to the ball. I was just a little lazy to start off,” she noted honestly.
Managing physical strain and maintaining composure
The turning point arrived during grueling baseline exchanges midway through the second set, which tested Pegula’s stamina. Even after leveling the contest, managing energy reserves proved critical under high competitive stress.
“Yeah, I mean, even in the second, I felt like I hit a little bit of a wall after we had those two really long games, and I just had to do my best to focus on my serve,” Pegula admitted when asked how she cools down and manages the pressure of such battles.
To maintain balance and close out the third set, the American relied on routine physical and mental reset techniques. “But, uh, yeah, use the ice towel, try to keep eating as much as I can, drinking fluids, um, work on my breathing, and just try and calm my emotions down a little bit so I’m not too wasting too much energy,” she said, having successfully guided herself through the tension and into the second week at Flushing Meadows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm-ru-h36f8
WTA U.S. Open - Jessica Pegula's projected path
Pegula at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2026
Ranked no.3 (career-high), the American has managed to achieve a compiled 49-12 match record in 2026. Jessica is currently having a run at the U.S. Open where she beat the world no.64 Elena Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-2, the world no.110 Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-1 and the world no.33 Leylah Annie Fernandez 1-6 6-4 6-3.
Jessica Pegula will come up against the world no.17 Sorana Cirstea in the 4th round. The head to head is 3-1 for Pegula.
The American has won 2 titles in 2026 in Dubai and Charleston.
Jessica won 11 titles in her career: 7 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
Leylah Annie Fernandez in 2026
Now ranked no.33, Leylah played her last match on the 4th of September when she was overcome by world no.3 Jessica Pegula 1-6 6-4 6-3 in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This season Leylah has achieved a composed 17-24 win-loss record.
Jessica Pegula and Leylah Annie Fernandez squared off 5 times. Their record is 4-1 for Pegula.
