Pegula Cruises as Krejcikova Falls | US Open 2026 Day 1 Roundup

Jessica Pegula made a convincing start to her US Open campaign on Sunday, while Barbora Krejcikova became the first women’s seed eliminated from the tournament.

Pegula defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6–3, 6–2 to begin the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk also advanced comfortably, while Leylah Fernandez recorded a straight-sets victory over Zhang Shuai. Sofia Kenin completed the night by defeating Venus Williams in an all-American meeting on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Rain interrupted play across the outside courts and pushed seven unfinished matches into Monday’s schedule. The roofed stadiums nevertheless allowed the principal Day 1 programme to conclude, providing the tournament’s first major upset and several commanding performances from the seeded players.

Pegula Opens Arthur Ashe With Convincing Victory

No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula began her tenth US Open campaign by defeating Ruse 6–3, 6–2.

The opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium briefly exposed the nerves that can accompany the first round of a home Grand Slam. Once Pegula settled, however, the difference between the two players became increasingly clear.

The American broke Ruse twice in each set and finished with 26 winners. Her serving became particularly effective during the second set, when she won every point behind her first delivery.

Pegula arrived in New York after reaching the Cincinnati final, where she lost to Coco Gauff. The quick transition did not appear to trouble her as she completed a controlled opening victory without surrendering a set.

She will next face Sofia Kenin in another all-American meeting.

Pegula remains one of four players capable of leaving the US Open as world No. 1, but her scenario is demanding. She must win the title and needs Elena Rybakina to lose before reaching the semifinals.

For the moment, Pegula has completed the only part she controls: surviving the opening round efficiently. Official US Open match report

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Pegula vs Russe
YouTube video player

Rakhimova Produces Day 1’s First Women’s Upset

Kamilla Rakhimova delivered the first significant upset of the women’s tournament by eliminating No. 27 seed Barbora Krejcikova 7–6(7), 6–2.

The opening set proved decisive.

Rakhimova survived the tighter moments and converted the tiebreak before taking increasing control in the second set. She broke Krejcikova four times across the match and completed the victory in straight sets.

Krejcikova entered the tournament as one of the most dangerous lower seeds because of her experience as a multiple Grand Slam champion. Her elimination removes a potential third-round obstacle from that section of the draw before several leading players have even begun their campaigns.

For Rakhimova, the victory represents more than an opening-round surprise. Defeating an established major champion in straight sets gives her an opportunity to build a meaningful run rather than treating the result as an isolated upset. Official WTA match page

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Rakhimova vs Krejcikova
YouTube video player

Fernandez Makes Confident Start Against Zhang

Leylah Fernandez defeated Zhang Shuai 6–3, 6–2 to move into the second round.

The No. 31 seed entered with the stronger recent ranking, but Zhang’s extensive Grand Slam experience made the match a potentially awkward opening assignment.

Fernandez prevented it from becoming one.

The Canadian controlled the scoreline in both sets and avoided the extended contest that Zhang needed to create. The victory gives the 2021 finalist a positive beginning at the tournament most closely associated with her career breakthrough.

Fernandez’s seeding leaves her exposed to a leading opponent as early as the third round, but her first performance suggested she remains comfortable with the pace and atmosphere of New York.

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Zhang vs Fernandez
YouTube video player

Svitolina Overwhelms Sierra in 51 Minutes

Elina Svitolina produced one of the most dominant women’s performances of the opening day, defeating qualifier Solana Sierra 6–1, 6–2 in only 51 minutes.

The No. 9 seed gave Sierra little opportunity to settle into her first US Open main-draw appearance.

Svitolina combined disciplined defence with controlled aggression and surrendered only three games. The victory was her 44th match win of the season and reinforced her position as a credible contender immediately outside the Top 8 seeds.

The Ukrainian reached the US Open semifinals in 2019 and has accumulated considerable experience in the New York conditions. Her opening performance did not require her to reveal much tactically, but it demonstrated that she has arrived ready to compete from the first round.

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Svitolina vs Sierra
YouTube video player

Kostyuk Advances With Another Ukrainian Victory

Marta Kostyuk joined Svitolina in the second round by defeating Australian qualifier Storm Hunter 6–4, 6–1.

Hunter remained competitive during the first set, but Kostyuk gradually imposed her heavier baseline game. Once the No. 11 seed secured the opening set, the match moved quickly in her favour.

Kostyuk completed the victory in 67 minutes and lost only one game in the second set.

She will next face either former US Open champion Sloane Stephens or Clara Tauson. That second-round assignment should provide a considerably more revealing test of Kostyuk’s prospects.

Both Svitolina and Kostyuk advanced without being drawn into prolonged matches—a useful outcome at the beginning of a potentially demanding two-week tournament. Reuters match report

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Kostyuk vs Hunter
YouTube video player

Paolini Survives Three-Set Test

Jasmine Paolini needed three sets to overcome Veronika Erjavec 6–3, 3–6, 6–4.

The No. 19 seed appeared to have established control after winning the opening set, but Erjavec responded by taking the second and forcing the match into a decider.

Paolini converted seven of her 17 break-point opportunities during a match featuring frequent pressure on both players’ serves. She eventually regained enough control to close the third set and avoid joining Krejcikova among the early seeded casualties.

The Italian will face qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini in the second round, guaranteeing an Italian player a place in the last 32.

Stefanini advanced by defeating Dayana Yastremska 6–3, 4–6, 6–1.

Paolini survived, but the match also supplied an early warning. She will need greater consistency if she is to progress through a section containing opponents capable of punishing fluctuations more severely. Official WTA match statistics

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Paolini vs Erjavec
YouTube video player

Alexandrova Makes Quick Work of Kessler

No. 18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated American McCartney Kessler 6–2, 6–2.

Alexandrova’s first-strike tennis allowed her to complete one of the day’s more straightforward victories. Kessler was unable to establish enough control in the rallies to place sustained pressure on the seeded player.

The result moves Alexandrova into the second round without the physical cost of a long opening match.

Former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova had a more complicated route, recovering to defeat Hanne Vandewinkel 2–6, 7–5, 6–3.

Watch: Official US Open Tennis highlights — Kessler vs Alexandrova
YouTube video player

Other Completed Women’s Results

Several unseeded players also secured places in the second round:

Wang Xinyu defeated Emiliana Arango, 6–4, 6–2
Lanlana Tararudee defeated qualifier Elvina Kalieva, 6–3, 6–7(4), 6–2
Polina Iatcenko defeated Renata Zarazua, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7)
Donna Vekic defeated Talia Gibson, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Katie Boulter defeated Carol Young Suh Lee, 6–4, 3–6, 6–0
Taylah Preston defeated Alycia Parks, 6–3, 6–3

Iatcenko’s deciding-set tiebreak was among the closest finishes of the opening day, while Boulter recovered from losing the second set by completing a shutout in the third.

Rain Disrupts the Outside Courts

The first day began under clear conditions, but rain later suspended play across the outside courts.

Seven matches were pushed into Monday’s schedule, while the roofed stadiums allowed selected matches to continue.

Emma Navarro was among the players affected. The No. 26 seed led Loïs Boisson 7–6(6), 4–2 when their match was suspended.

The interruption creates an uneven opening round. Players who completed their matches receive a normal recovery period, while those returning on Monday may face a compressed schedule if they advance.

That difference does not guarantee a competitive disadvantage, but it can become meaningful if a suspended match develops into a long contest.

Kenin Denies Venus Williams a Comeback

Sofia Kenin defeated Venus Williams 6–3, 7–6(7) in the final women’s match of Day 1.

The meeting brought together two American Grand Slam champions from different generations. Williams, now 46, received a wild card for another appearance at the tournament she won in 2000 and 2001. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, also entered through a wild card.

Kenin controlled the opening set, but Williams threatened to force a decider during a far more competitive second. Kenin saved seven set points before closing the match in the tiebreak and denying the veteran a late comeback.

The victory sends Kenin into an all-American second-round meeting with No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula. It will be a considerably more demanding assignment, but surviving the pressure generated by Williams and the Arthur Ashe crowd should give Kenin confidence before facing the leading American in the draw. Official WTA match report

What We Learned From Day 1

Pegula delivered the authoritative opening expected from the highest-ranked American in action. Svitolina and Kostyuk were equally efficient, Fernandez removed a potentially difficult experienced opponent, Paolini survived the first serious examination of her campaign and Kenin held her nerve against Williams.

Krejcikova’s departure is the most consequential result so far.

Her status as a Grand Slam champion made her more dangerous than an ordinary No. 27 seed, but Rakhimova denied her the opportunity to turn that experience into another major run.

Rain leaves part of the Day 1 schedule unresolved, with seven outside-court matches carrying over to Monday. Those results will complete the affected first-round contests, but the scheduled Sunday programme has ended.

Pegula is safely through to face Kenin, Fernandez has returned to winning ways in New York and the women’s draw has already lost its first seeded major champion.

Sources: Official US Open live scores, official WTA scores, Reuters Day 1 report