World No 3 Jessica Pegula conquered US Open first-round nerves to dispatch Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Sunday, kicking off the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Novak Djokovic waited in the wings.
Pegula broke Romania's Ruse twice in each set on the way to a 6-3, 6-2 triumph, but it was less straightforward than the score indicated as the 32-year-old veteran felt the weight of playing first on the cavernous show court.
"Oh yeah, I was so nervous today, always the first round of a slam," said Pegula, the 32-year-old who is the highest-ranked American in either the men's or women's draw in the final Grand Slam of the year.
"It's an amazing honour," she said of being given the first match on Ashe. "It's an honour to hold that title, walking out onto Ashe opening day, first match, it's amazing."
Pegula is chasing her first Grand Slam title. She came closest with a runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 US Open, and she fell to the Belarusian in the semifinals last year.
Pegula saved the only break point she faced, but her nerves showed as she converted just two of her 14 break point chances in the opening set.
That was enough, and she was an efficient two-for-four on break opportunities in the second. She gave herself triple match point with a crisp forehand winner to the corner and after Ruse saved two with booming serves secured the win when the Romanian put a forehand into the net.
2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula is this year's first winner on Ashe! pic.twitter.com/EE3cUIqB3L
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2026
With the first round now spread over three days, Pegula was looking forward to a couple of days off with a confidence-boosting win under her belt.
"I get to sit around the site and watch everybody else freak out for the next two days," she said.
Four-time US Open champion Djokovic headlined the night session, launching his latest quest for a record-busting 25th Grand Slam title against Argentina's Mariano Navone.
Djokovic seized his 24th major trophy at the US Open in 2023 to equal Australian Margaret Court's all-time record.
Since then he has played 11 majors and reached the final in two – including this year's Australian Open.
The 39-year-old, seeded fourth in a draw headed by world No 2 Alexander Zverev and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, says he's prepared "as best I can be" for his 20th US Open campaign.
Venus Williams headlines an all-American wild card clash to close out the action on Ashe, taking on 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Williams won two of her seven Grand Slam titles at the US Open, but the 46-year-old has lost her last 14 singles matches. Much of the crowd will be backing her to halt the skid, with the winner of the match booking a meeting with Pegula.
MEDVEDEV MOVES ON
Former champion Daniil Medvedev, seeded seventh, opened his campaign with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over France's Hugo Gaston.
The tournament lost another former champion in 2014 winner Marin Cilic, who pulled out because of injury.
So did 19th-seeded 2022 finalist Casper Ruud, who played the mixed doubles tournament last week but said Sunday he had not sufficiently recovered from a back injury to tackle singles.
Uzbekistan's 88th-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova knocked out two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, polishing off the win on her seventh match point – all in the final game.
Three-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini, playing her first match since a foot injury forced her out of Wimbledon, beat Slovenian Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Clutch Paolini 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/RWogpykbeR
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2026
Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko rallied from a set down to beat Mexico's Renata Zarazua 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/7) in a tussle lasting three hours and 27 minutes.
The 22-year-old Iatcenko overcame 85 unforced errors and a right leg issue that required multiple medical time-outs to pull off the comeback.