NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula kept her dream of winning a first Grand Slam title alive after defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open, ending the Romanian veteran’s memorable run in what was her final appearance at the tournament.
The third-seeded American produced a composed performance on Sunday at Flushing Meadows, overcoming a determined Cirstea to move one step closer to another deep run in New York.
Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, is now through to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year as she continues her pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam singles title.
Pegula Holds Firm in Tight Battle
While the final score suggested a straightforward victory, Cirstea made Pegula work throughout the contest.
The opening set featured several momentum swings and service breaks before Pegula finally converted her fifth set point to take control, 6-3.
The second set remained closely contested, with both players battling for every opportunity. However, Pegula eventually secured the decisive break and maintained her advantage to complete a 6-4 victory.
The win also continued Pegula’s recent success against Cirstea after the American defeated the Romanian during the Cincinnati Open swing.
Speaking after the match, Pegula acknowledged the challenge presented by her opponent and praised Cirstea’s competitiveness following another intense encounter between the two players.
An Emotional US Open Goodbye for Sorana Cirstea
For Cirstea, the defeat marked the end of her US Open journey — and added another emotional chapter to a remarkable late-career resurgence.
The Romanian announced that she plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, but rather than slowing down, Cirstea has enjoyed one of the strongest periods of her career.
At 36, she captured a title on home soil, recorded her first victory over a world No. 1 player by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in Rome and broke into the WTA Top 20 for the first time in her career.
Her run at Flushing Meadows became another reminder that Cirstea remains capable of challenging the world’s best players despite being in the final season of her professional career.
Her US Open campaign may be over, but her farewell season still has more chapters to write.
Pegula’s Grand Slam Dream Gains Momentum
Pegula entered the 2026 US Open as one of America’s biggest hopes and has continued to demonstrate why she remains among the leading contenders for the title.
Her road to the fourth round was not without difficulty.
In the previous round, Pegula rallied from a set down to defeat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, showing the resilience needed to survive the pressure of Grand Slam competition.
That comeback followed an impressive start to her tournament, including a dominant straight-sets victory over fellow American Sofia Kenin.
Now, after overcoming Cirstea, Pegula finds herself back in familiar territory — the business end of the US Open.
The American is aiming to reach a third consecutive US Open semifinal and potentially return to the championship match for the first time since her 2024 run to the final.
Before the tournament, Pegula said she believed she had developed into a better player since losing the 2024 final to Aryna Sabalenka.
Her latest victory suggests she may be getting another opportunity to prove it.
Who Will Jessica Pegula Face Next?
Pegula was set to face the winner of the match between American Emma Navarro and Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals.
With the home crowd firmly behind her and another quarterfinal appearance secured, the pressure — and expectations — will only continue to grow.
For Pegula, however, the mission remains clear.
She has reached the final before.
She has gone deep in New York multiple times.
But the question now is whether 2026 could finally be the year Jessica Pegula turns her US Open dream into a Grand Slam breakthrough.
One opponent is down. The quarterfinals are next. But can Pegula finally go all the way?
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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