Pegula Advances, Sabalenka Reaches US Open Third Round Amid Key Matches

American tennis player Jessica Pegula advanced to the fourth round of the 2025 US Open by defeating Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 despite a challenging second set where Azarenka, struggling with a leg injury, mounted a late fightback. Pegula, the tournament's No. 4 seed and 2024 finalist, focused on maintaining an aggressive and physical style to exploit Azarenka's condition, demonstrating strong movement and resilience. This win continues Pegula's impressive run at the US Open, where she has 14 consecutive victories against opponents ranked outside the top 50. Meanwhile, other notable players included Carlos Alcaraz, who overcame a knee issue to advance comfortably, and Emma Raducanu, whose run ended in the third round despite showing signs of improvement. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, also progressed to the third round while showing compassion off-court amid controversy between Jeļena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend. Sabalenka supported Ostapenko after a heated exchange with Townsend, highlighting sportsmanship in the tournament's competitive environment.