Jessica Pegula, the American tennis sensation, was greeted with thunderous applause after her victory over fellow US star Sofia Kenin at the US Open. The crowd’s support played a crucial role in helping her navigate through a challenging match.

In a moment of frustration during the first set, Pegula tossed her racket, only to be reminded by the cheering fans who their favourite was. Pegula is now set to face 21-year-old Jessica Bouzas in the third round of the tournament, following Bouzas’ surprise victory over Katie Boulter.

Initially, it seemed as though Kenin would outplay Pegula, but the seasoned player quickly regained control after a clear message from the audience. Despite Kenin taking an early 2-0 lead in the first set and showing dominance, the tide soon turned.

Facing two break points and the potential loss of the first set, Pegula hurled her racket onto the ground after a glance towards her coaches Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein, silencing the crowd. However, the loudest cheer had been for Pegula when she entered the court, and those inside Louis Armstrong Stadium felt a change was needed.

The crowd began to rally behind Pegula, their cheers lifting her spirits and turning the momentum of the game. Pegula managed to save both break points and win the game, leading to a tiebreak in the set.

Pegula triumphed in the tiebreak with a 7-4 score, leaving Kenin hanging by a thread. She went on to dominate the second set and sealed her advance to the third round with a comfortable 6-3 victory.

Jessica Pegula, despite never making it to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, retains a strong support base and garners immense respect from her peers. With origins from Buffalo, New York a good 600 kilometers from Queens she still cherishes the New Yorker connection at the US Open.

Her best run at this event was last year’s quarter-final berth.

The seasoned American player has ousted two compatriots to secure her place in the third round, following an earlier victory over Shelby Rogers. “I just get juiced up to play Americans,” expressed Pegula post-victory against Kenin on Thursday.

Pegula displayed no signs of regret after dispatching Kenin, yet her first-round win over Rogers a long-time friend since their junior days was tinged with emotion. Reflecting on their shared journey, Pegula stated: “We grew up playing juniors together, playing the same sections together. And now we get to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium.”