Pegula sprints through in 56 minutes, Sabalenka continues power display at US Open

New York – When the clock at Louis Armstrong Stadium had just ticked past 56 minutes, Jessica Pegula had already completed her work. The final forehand landed in the corner of the court, and Sofia Kenin could only watch. The 6-3, 6-1 scoreline accurately reflected what happened on court – a completely dominant performance by the American No. 3 seed against her compatriot, the 2026 Australian Open champion. This match was far less tense than their previous Grand Slam meeting, where Pegula needed a first-set tiebreak to get past Kenin in the second round of the 2026 US Open. This time, she surrendered only seven points on serve, never faced a break point, and finished with 18 winners against eight unforced errors. The 5-2 career head-to-head record against Kenin now tells a clear story: Pegula has found the formula to neutralize her opponent's high-energy style. "I knew today was going to be tough. Sonya has given me a lot of trouble in the past," Pegula said after the match. "She's a great player and a champion, so I was just trying to stay focused on what I needed to do." What's notable isn't just the victory, but the way Pegula won. She broke serve to lead 3-1 in the opening set, then won seven consecutive games spanning both sets. This is her seventh straight year reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows – a rare consistency in modern women's tennis, where ups and downs are the norm. But there's one detail I paid particular attention to in Pegula's comments: "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." This is not a random detail. Based on my experience following matches, a player deliberately accelerating on second serves is usually a sign of physical confidence – she believes her body can handle the pressure of moving faster after riskier serves. Pegula will face Leylah Fernandez – the 2026 US Open runner-up – in the third round. This will be a real test of her fitness, as Fernandez is known for her tireless movement and emotional style of play. Fernandez defeated Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka continues to show why she is the No. 1 contender for the title. The Belarusian top seed needed just 54 minutes to demolish Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. Notably, Sabalenka is changing her playing philosophy. "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's statement is worth pondering. In a sport where perfection is often worshipped, a two-time defending champion admitting she's no longer chasing perfection is a sign of psychological maturity. Data never lies; only the way we read it is wrong. And Sabalenka's reading of her own body is becoming more realistic – which could help her avoid overuse injuries during the long Grand Slam journey. One of the highlights of the day was Elina Svitolina's performance. The Ukrainian No. 9 seed 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. The ability to recover mentally after such a shock is something not every player possesses. Marta Kostyuk also had an emotional day. The Ukrainian No. 11 seed led 6-1, 4-2 against Sloane Stephens – the 2026 US Open champion – before allowing her opponent to mount a comeback and earn a set point opportunity. Kostyuk escaped the danger and won the final three games to close out the match 6-1, 7-5. "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." The truth is, these types of matches at Grand Slams always carry a higher injury risk than regular tournaments. When a player like Stephens is backed into a corner, she often changes pace and forces her opponent to move more, creating unusual stress on muscle groups. Kostyuk passed this test, but the question is whether she can maintain that intensity through the coming rounds. Meanwhile, Emma Navarro continued her impressive run by rallying past Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an all-American matchup. Navarro will face Karolina Muchova – the Czech No. 7 seed – who crushed Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour. One of the day's surprises was Jelena Ostapenko – the Latvian No. 30 seed – becoming the only seeded woman eliminated. Germany's Tatjana Maria rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over the 2026 French Open champion in the first round. This is a notable result because Ostapenko is known for her aggressive style, but that same style makes her vulnerable when opponents find a way to neutralize it. 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. This created a disparity in playing conditions – a factor I always consider from an injury analysis perspective. When a player has to wait hours between sets due to rain, their body cools down and the risk of muscle injury increases significantly when they return to play. I find the gap not in the player's body but in the way we measure it. In the context of this year's US Open, tracking waiting time between matches and its effect on performance is a factor that medical teams need to pay special attention to. A risk model doesn't save anyone; it just tells you where to look. Looking back at Wednesday's play, the top players are showing excellent physical preparation. Pegula took just 56 minutes, Sabalenka 54 minutes – these numbers show they are in optimal physical condition. But the biggest question remains: can they maintain this form through 7 matches over 2 weeks? The US Open is a marathon, not a sprint. And in a tournament where rain can disrupt the schedule at any moment, the ability to manage fitness will become the deciding factor. Pegula spoke about working hard off the court to improve her serving. This shows deep investment – not just in technique but in fitness. When a player can maintain high-quality second serves at speed, it means their shoulder and back muscles are working efficiently. This is a positive sign for the long journey ahead. Can Pegula go further than last year's runner-up finish? Can Sabalenka complete a three-peat? These questions will be answered in the coming days. But one thing is certain: players who listen to their bodies and adjust their tactics to match their current fitness will always have an advantage. In tennis, as in life, wisdom lies not in trying to do everything perfectly, but in knowing where you are and making the best of what you have.