Jessica Pegula is not just aiming for her first Grand Slam title at the 2026 US Open; she also has the chance to become the world No. 1 for the very first time. This ambitious goal means she could knock Aryna Sabalenka off the top spot, but it won’t be easy.
For Pegula to ascend to the top of the WTA rankings, she needs to win the US Open while hoping that Elena Rybakina, who is currently ranked No. 2, does not make it to the semi-finals. If all goes her way, Pegula would not only achieve the biggest ranking milestone of her career but also become the oldest player in WTA history to earn her first No. 1 ranking, surpassing Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who achieved this at age 28.
At 32 years old, Pegula is on the verge of writing tennis history in New York. However, her immediate focus is on winning matches, and she kicked off her tournament in style on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
PEGULA OVERCOMES NERVES TO DEFEAT RUSE
The third-seeded American launched her US Open journey with an impressive victory, beating Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. Pegula showcased her skill by breaking Ruse’s serve twice in each set and securing the win in straight sets, even though the score didn’t fully reflect the challenges of the match.
Initially feeling some nerves, Pegula quickly found her rhythm and established control with her solid baseline play. Once she gained the upper hand, she limited Ruse’s chances to mount a serious comeback.
This victory is part of a strong season for Pegula, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year and won her fourth WTA 1000 title in Dubai. However, the pressure is higher than ever now.
Pegula previously reached a US Open final in 2024, where she finished as the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka, but she is still in pursuit of her first Grand Slam singles title. With Rybakina also arriving in New York with fitness concerns—having retired in a Cincinnati quarter-final due to an ankle injury—the race for the rankings could become one of the tournament’s most notable narratives.
As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Pegula as she aims to achieve her dreams on the big stage.
