Queens, NY — Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula made the most of a rare stretch of uninterrupted weather Wednesday, cruising through their U.S. Open singles matches in less than an hour apiece.
With rain disrupting the tournament schedule and leaving some players still trying to complete their opening-round matches, Pegula and Townsend avoided the delays and took care of business quickly.
Pegula needed 56 minutes to eliminate fellow American Sofia Kenin, winning 6-3, 6-1. The sixth-seeded American controlled the match from the start, dropping only four games and never allowing Kenin to establish a sustained rhythm.
Townsend was even more dominant.
The 30-year-old American dispatched Australia’s Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-1 in only 48 minutes. Her serving performance was particularly impressive: Townsend won all 23 points behind her first serve, going a perfect 23-for-23.
The commanding victory gives Townsend momentum in singles while she prepares for another opportunity in doubles.
Townsend will team up with longtime partner Katerina Siniakova in the women’s doubles competition. The pair enters the tournament as the top-seeded team and will be looking to add another Grand Slam championship to an already impressive partnership.
The U.S. Open remains the only major doubles title missing from Townsend’s résumé. She and Siniakova have captured Wimbledon in 2024, the Australian Open in 2025 and the French Open in 2026.
For Pegula, the comfortable opening-round victory provides an ideal start as she looks to make a deep run in New York. Townsend, meanwhile, has positioned herself for a potentially memorable tournament on both sides of the draw.
There is still plenty of tennis remaining, particularly with weather disruptions creating a crowded schedule. But with their efficient opening performances, Pegula and Townsend have already made clear that they are players worth watching as the tournament progresses.
