Jessica Pegula shakes off nerves, starts US Open with win vs. Ruse - ESPN

NEW YORK — Third-ranked Jessica Pegula shook off nerves that contributed to a slow start against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, winning her opening match at the US Open on Sunday in straight sets.

Leading off at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 32-year-old American missed her first nine opportunities to break Ruse but found a rhythm and began dominating. Coming off a trip to the final at the Cincinnati Open, which she lost to Coco Gauff, Pegula won 92% of her first-serve points on the way to a 6-3, 6-2 victory in 83 minutes.

«I was so nervous,» Pegula said. «I was like sending GIFs of what I felt like. It was GIFs of people freaking out and stuff.… The first round of a Slam, there's always a ton of nerves.»

Maybe a little more this time, given what's at stake.

Pegula leads the women's tour with 46 wins this season. She has two titles and has reached three other finals. Pegula can become No. 1 in the women's rankings if she wins her first major title and No. 2 Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals.

Pegula next faces the winner of the match between Venus Williams and fellow wild card Sofia Kenin, Sunday's nightcap at Ashe. Williams and sister Serena are scheduled to play doubles together.

Nineteenth-seeded Jasmine Paolini also advanced in women's singles, defeating Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, as did No. 31 Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up. Kamilla Rakhimova beat No. 27 seed Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (4), 6-2.

On the men's side, Daniil Medvedev was up next at Ashe against Hugo Gaston. Novak Djokovic begins his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title Sunday night against Mariano Navone.

Djokovic, 39, most recently lost his opening match earlier this month at Cincinnati.