American Jessica Pegula kicked off her 2023 U.S. Open campaign in routine fashion as she breezed past Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon.
Playing the powerful Italian for an 11th time, Pegula needed one hour and 22 minutes to beat her for the ninth time to secure her spot in the second round.
“I thought it was a good match. You know, Camila is always very tough. You never know what you’re going to get. She’s a great ball striker, good athletes, goes for her shots. I knew what I had to do,” said Pegula. “I’ve played her several times this year already, a lot of times throughout my career. I knew what I needed to do but sometimes it depends as well on how you’re playing and how she’s playing. I think I was able to kind of execute what I wanted to do today.”
The biggest game of the match came at 2-2 in the second set, when Pegula overcame six saved break points from Giorgi to secure the key break for a 3-2 advantage. The third-seeded American never looked back as she advanced to play on Thursday. There, she will take on Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig, who won 7-6(6), 7-6(1) over Canada’s Rebecca Marino.
Pegula’s compatriot and former U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys won her opening round match as she defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-4. Keys saved all three break points she faced and blasted 20 winners to 19 unforced errors to advance in one hour and 26 minutes and move into a matchup with Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer.
Competing in her 24th different U.S. Open, Venus Williams began the Night Session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night. But the 43-year-old American was upended by Belgium’s Greet Minnen who won 6-1, 6-1.
“I think first I have to give credit to my opponent. I mean, there wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make. Even when I hit really amazing shots, she just hit a winner or a dropshot,” said Williams. “I don’t think I played badly. I think it was just one of those days where it’s just unlucky.”
26th seed Elina Svitolina notched a 6-3, 6-1 win over Anna-Lena Friedsam to continue her success at the Grand Slams this year. After giving birth to her first child last October, Svitolina reached the French Open quarterfinals and the Wimbledon semifinals this summer.
Elina Svitolina won her opening round match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USTA)
“Any win on the Grand Slam is a happy, happy day because the best players are here, everyone is there trying to beat you, trying to bring their best game,” said Svitolina. “That’s why there’s so many exciting matches on the Grand Slam [stage].”
Svitolina moves on to play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who ended the run of American qualifier Fiona Crawley on Tuesday.
Yafan Wang upset seventh-seed Caroline Garcia while American Sachia Vickery came back from a set down to upset 21st seed Donna Vekic.
Second-seed Aryna Sabalenka, fifth-seed Ons Jabeur, ninth-seed Marketa Vondrousova and 13th seed Daria Kasatkina were all first-round winners on Tuesday.
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