Former US Open finalist Jessica Pegula defeated Sorana Cirstea of Romania in straight sets Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Third-seeded Pegula, one of the players who could supplant Aryna Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York, needed 84 minutes to polish off the 6-3, 6-4.
Jessica Pegula punches her ticket to a third-consecutive US Open quarterfinal! pic.twitter.com/IUjcY8XCw2
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2026
Both sets followed a similar pattern, an aggressive Pegula jumping out to big leads before the Romanian cleaned up her play enough to narrow the lead, but not enough to catch up to the American.
Pegula wrapped up the first set in 38 minutes with a break of Cirstea's serve.
In the second Cirstea twice recovered breaks, but Pegula broke her one more time to seal the win.
The American clinched the victory when she got the upper hand in a rally and eventually forced an error out of Cirstea, who bowed out of her final Grand Slam having said she'll retire at the end of the season.
Pegula will next play fellow American Emma Navarro, seeded 26th.
Jessica Pegula punches her ticket to a third-consecutive US Open quarterfinal! pic.twitter.com/IUjcY8XCw2
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2026
Pegula will have to go all the way to a first Grand Slam title to have any chance of claiming the world No 1 ranking. World No 2 Elena Rybakina is assured of ascending if she reaches the quarterfinals, even if Sabalenka wins he third straight US Open crown.