New York (Reuters) – On Sunday, American tennis star Jessica Pegula secured a straight‑sets victory over Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea to reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Pegula, the tournament’s 16th seed, won 6‑3, 6‑4 on the Louis Armstrong court, extending her run at Flushing Meadows for a third consecutive year.
Match Overview
The opening set was tightly contested, with both players holding serve only three times. Pegula capitalized on a double‑fault from Cirstea while serving for the set and, after squandering four set points, finally converted the fifth to take the set 6‑3. In the second set, Pegula maintained the pressure, breaking Cirstea once more than her opponent and closing the match 6‑4.
Background on the Competitors
Pegula entered the tournament after a three‑set win over fellow American Leylah Fernandez in the fourth round. The American has been a consistent presence in the later stages of Grand Slam events, and this victory adds another strong performance to her résumé.
Cirstea, a former top‑20 player who announced her retirement at the end of the 2026 season, made her final Grand Slam appearance in New York. The Romanian had enjoyed a late‑career resurgence, climbing back into the top‑20 before deciding to step away from professional tennis.
Player Reactions
After the match, Pegula praised her opponent, saying, “I have a lot of respect for her. She’s such a great competitor. We actually hadn’t played in a while up until the last few weeks. They were two really tough matches. It was definitely really intense.” The American will now await the winner of the late‑night clash between compatriot Emma Navarro and Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya to determine her next opponent.
What’s Next for the US Open
The quarterfinals promise high‑stakes matchups as the remaining players vie for a spot in the semifinals. Pegula’s consistent form and experience on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows position her as a strong contender to advance further.
Fans can follow the upcoming rounds on the official US Open website and through live broadcasts on national sports networks.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
