Jessica Pegula vs Sofia Kenin: US Open Second Round – Opportunity for Pegula, Challenge for Kenin

At the 2026 US Open, the second-round match between Jessica Pegula (seed No. 6) and Sofia Kenin (world No. 99) promises to be a dramatic encounter. Pegula, last year's runner-up, has been in impressive form on hard courts this season with two finals in Washington and Cincinnati, plus a quarterfinal in Toronto. She just defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 in the first round, showcasing her consistency and superior power. Meanwhile, Kenin, the 2026 Australian Open champion, is enduring a difficult season with only six main-draw wins all year. She advanced past the first round after beating Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6, but needed to save seven set points, revealing fragility in her game. Notably, the head-to-head record favors Pegula 4-2, demonstrating tactical superiority. Pegula possesses an excellent return game, consistently ranked in the WTA top 5, and her flat, early-ball striking is well-suited to the medium-paced hard courts of the US Open. Kenin, despite her fighting spirit, has a weak serve and unstable mentality, making her easy to exploit. Another crucial factor is the points pressure: Pegula must defend 1,300 points from her 2026 runner-up finish; an early exit would cost approximately 1,230 points, risking a drop out of the top 10. This creates immense pressure, but also serves as motivation to fight hard. Tactically, Pegula will focus on neutralizing Kenin's serve and extending baseline rallies. Kenin needs to maximize her speed and intensity, while improving her first-serve percentage to create opportunities. Data shows Pegula is at her peak form, while Kenin is merely 'surviving' match by match. With home-court advantage, head-to-head lead, and superior form, Pegula is the clear favorite. However, tennis always has surprises, and Kenin is a former Grand Slam champion, so she cannot be underestimated. The match promises to be intense, with Pegula as the strong candidate for victory. Overall, this is an opportunity for Pegula to assert her top-10 status and advance deep into the tournament, while Kenin needs to prove she can still compete at the highest level. Vietnamese fans can watch live on sports channels. Prediction: Pegula wins 2-0.