NEW YORK – No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini and 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu engaged in a thrilling contest under the floodlights of Louis Armstrong Stadium on the second day of the U.S. Open, and once again the Italian prevailed, winning 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. The first-round victory was Paolini’s third against Andreescu this season, with all three encounters coming at the last three Grand Slams.
Paolini will face former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round. Pliskova advanced by defeating Mayar Sherif 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.
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No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula closed the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Shelby Rogers, who announced last week that the US Open would be her last professional tournament.
Three insights from an emotional night session in New York.
Paolini’s physicality and mentality brought victory: On a day when two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka delivered a performance at Louis Armstrong Stadium that reminded everyone of her champion’s lineage, the stars aligned for a similar performance from Andreescu. The 24-year-old Canadian was playing her first US Open since 2022 after missing last year’s event due to injury. She was motivated from the start and played her all-court hardcourt game to perfection to take a 5-3 lead.
Paolini never panicked. The 28-year-old Italian is enjoying a breakthrough after winning her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai and reaching two consecutive Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. She even added an Olympic doubles gold medal to her phenomenal tally for 2024.
Paolini kept her cool and focused to take Andreescu to a first-set tiebreak. While it wasn’t enough to win the set, Paolini worked hard to remind herself that she was still capable of winning.
“After the first set, it was tough,” Paolini told reporters after the match. “I was close to winning, but it wasn’t enough. I kept telling myself to try to relax a bit because I was a bit nervous. I think in the first set the forehand didn’t work, but then I tried to put more pressure on, to be more relaxed.”
“I think I’ve started hitting the ball better. I’m glad my level has increased a little bit.”
Paolini and Andreescu will not miss each other at the draws: Paolini and Andreescu went head-to-head for 2 hours and 48 minutes, and in the end it was Andreescu’s body that gave out first. She started to feel cramps in her lower legs at the start of the third set, but fought bravely through the pain to keep the pressure on Paolini, who had won her serve early and was close to winning the set.
“I think she played a really good game today,” Paolini said. “It was a battle for both of us, almost three hours. I tried to do my best to hit the ball, push every ball and move her, because I think she was struggling a little bit physically. But so was I at some point.”
“It was a really great fight.”
After losing to Paolini at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and now at the US Open, Andreescu could only laugh when she met the likeable Italian at the net for a handshake.
“She told me I was playing well and that she hoped she would win next time,” laughed Paolini. “I told her I hope not. It’s tough every time to play against her, I must say.”
For Pegula and Rogers, the circle closes: After a stellar summer in which she won Toronto and reached the final in Cincinnati, Pegula was given the unenviable task of playing against her good friend in Rogers’ final tournament. Pegula
“We grew up together on the junior team and played in the same groups,” said an emotional Pegula on the field, “and now we get to play at Arthur Ashe Stadium.”
Rogers seemed poised for an upset after breaking Pegula first in the first set to take a 3-2 lead. But after adjusting to the damp and slow night conditions on Ashe, Pegula lost just four games for the rest of the match.
Pegula will face Sofia Kenin in the second round. Kenin defeated 2021 champion Emma Raducanu in three sets the night before to advance.
