Pegula Beats Ruse at US Open

Jessica Pegula beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the 2026 US Open on Sunday, Aug. 30, leading off Arthur Ashe Stadium. ESPN wrote that the third-ranked American shook off early nerves, won 92 percent of her first-serve points, and closed it in 83 minutes. Tennis.com lists the match completed on Ashe. Pegula next faces the winner of Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin, the night session on the same court.

The start was messy. ESPN said Pegula missed her first nine break opportunities before finding a rhythm. Reuters, carried by The Straits Times, had her squandering eight break-point chances early, then finishing with 26 winners to Ruse's 14 and an unreturnable forehand to close. "I was so nervous," Pegula told ESPN. "The first round of a Slam, there's always a ton of nerves."

How did Pegula beat Ruse at the US Open?

Straight sets, Ashe, 83 minutes. Tennis.com stats had Pegula at 92 percent first-serve points won (23 of 25) and four breaks of serve. She held all eight service games. Ruse, ranked 63, saved 14 of 18 break points but could not stop the slide once Pegula settled. Pegula arrived off a Cincinnati final loss to Coco Gauff, ESPN noted, and is still chasing a first major singles title.

Reuters wrote that Ruse hung in a marathon third game and later saved break point with a backhand slice at net, but Pegula broke in the fifth and again to take the first set. In the second she won all of her first-serve points and broke in the sixth and eighth games. That is the whole box: 6-3, 6-2, home crowd, next round already booked against an American wild card.

Who does Jessica Pegula play next?

The winner of Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin, Sunday night on Arthur Ashe. ESPN and Reuters both framed that all-American wild-card matchup as Pegula's second-round draw. Williams and Serena are also scheduled for doubles. Pegula gets two days' rest under the 15-day schedule, Reuters wrote, and gets to watch everyone else deal with first-round nerves.

Elsewhere Sunday, ESPN noted Jasmine Paolini beat Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, and Kamilla Rakhimova upset No. 27 seed Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (4), 6-2. Search Pegula US Open and the answer is already on the board: R1 win, Ashe, Venus or Kenin next.

Pegula vs Ruse FAQ

What was the Pegula vs Ruse score? Jessica Pegula won 6-3, 6-2 in 83 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium, per ESPN and Tennis.com, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.

Who does Pegula play in the second round? The winner of Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin, ESPN and Reuters reported.

How did Pegula serve? ESPN said she won 92 percent of her first-serve points. Tennis.com had her at 23 of 25 on first serve and unbroken on serve.