Jessica Pegula is aiming for more than just her first Grand Slam title at the 2026 US Open. The American player has a real chance to rise to the number one spot in the WTA rankings for the first time, which would mean taking the crown from Aryna Sabalenka. However, the path to this achievement is challenging.
Pegula can claim the world No. 1 rank if she wins the US Open, and if Elena Rybakina, who currently holds the No. 2 spot, does not make it to the semi-finals. If everything falls into place, this victory would mark a significant milestone for Pegula, making her the oldest player to become a first-time world No. 1 in WTA history. The current record is held by Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who reached the top at the age of 28 and 238 days back in September 2016.
At 32 years old, Pegula stands on the brink of making history in New York. Her immediate focus, however, is on maintaining her winning streak, and she kicked off her campaign with a strong performance at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
PEGULA SHOWS GRIT TO OVERCOME RUSE
Pegula, seeded third, started her tournament with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse. She broke Ruse’s serve twice in each set, securing the match in straight sets. Yet, the score didn’t fully capture the intensity of the match.
Despite feeling some early nerves, Pegula quickly found her rhythm and dominated with her strong baseline play. Once she took the lead, she did not allow Ruse many chances to regain her momentum.
This win adds to a successful 2026 season for Pegula, who previously reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and won her fourth WTA 1000 title in Dubai earlier this year. But now, the stakes are even higher.
Pegula has already made it to a US Open final, having finished as the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in 2024, and she is still on the hunt for her first Grand Slam singles title. Meanwhile, Rybakina’s entry into the tournament is clouded by concerns over her fitness after retiring from her match in Cincinnati with an ankle injury. This could turn the rankings race into one of the biggest narratives of the tournament.
- Ends
