Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk reach US Open round two

Jessica Pegula and Marta Kostyuk have advanced to the second round of the US Open after convincing opening victories. The results preserve the progress of two highly ranked players, with Pegula entering the tournament as the world No. 3 and Kostyuk as the No. 11 seed.

Pegula overcame Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, ranked 63rd by the WTA, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 23 minutes. The American immediately put Ruse under pressure, forcing her to save eight break points in her second service game. Pegula then survived a break opportunity against her own serve before taking Ruse’s delivery at 3-2. She held the advantage through the remainder of the first set and secured it with her second set point.

The second set remained level through the opening games, but Pegula changed the match at 3-2 by converting her first break chance. She added another break later in the set and finished on her third match point. Her next opponent will be either Venus Williams, ranked 611th, or Sofia Kenin, ranked 110th.

Kostyuk spent one hour and eight minutes defeating Australia’s Storm Hunter 6-2, 6-1. The Ukrainian broke at 2-1 and built a 5-2 lead in the first set before Hunter narrowed the gap. Kostyuk still took the set on her only set point. Hunter created two break chances at the start of the second, but Kostyuk saved both and then pulled away. After Hunter levelled at one game apiece, Kostyuk won the next five games, converting two of three break opportunities. She will next face either American Sloane Stephens, ranked 208th, or Denmark’s Clara Tauson, ranked 42nd.