Earlier this week in an interview with Mail Sport, Jessica Pegula described the ‘normality’ of her life – despite being the daughter of a billionaire and one of the best tennis players in the world.
On Saturday, that theme continued with the most routine of victories under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe. Within 70 minutes, she had booked her spot in the US Open last 16, and was – presumably – heading straight for the subway home.
In the past, Pegula’s game has – perhaps unfairly – been labeled as boring, but if boring is yet another straight-sets victory in a Grand Slam, she’ll take it.
In Spanish opponent Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Pegula was facing a 21-year-old in biggest match of her career, having previously never made it out of qualifying at the US Open, let alone to the third round.
In her last match, she beat Britain’s Katie Boulter in a huge shock, but in truth this looked a step too far. Pegula ran out 6-3, 6-3 winner on Saturday lunchtime, and while Bouzas Maneiro will continue to climb up the WTA rankings, this was the American’s day.
Jessica Pegula pumps her fist after winning match point against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Spaniard Bouzas Maneiro was in the biggest match of her career, but fell short of a victory
The first big turning of the tide here came at 3-3 in the first, when Pegula squandered one break point but then fired a powerful cross-court forehand to leave her opponent flat-footed and steal the game.
That was an ominous moment that signaled what was to come, as Pegula won the next six straight games to romp into a set and 3-0 lead.
That a double fault 45 minutes into the match drew gasps from the crowd is perhaps testament to the rarity of Pegula’s mistakes.
There was another on serve at 3-1 in the second, though, when the No 6 seed was broken, and the crowd on Arthur Ashe gave a loud cheer to Bouzas Maneiro. Finally, some competitive tennis to go with their $23 Honey Deuces.
Pegula returns a shot against her Spanish opponent during her dominant straight-sets win
The pair shake hands at the net after Pegula (left) sealed her spot in the US Open’s last 16
Just minutes later, that cheer was even louder for Pegula as she ran her Spanish opponent ragged for a 40-0 hold, and then instantly broke for a 5-3 lead. Normality restored.
A game later, this one was done. Another love hold, another dominant victory secure – and her quickest yet at this year’s US Open.
There will be tougher tests to come for the American as she races towards a quarter-final match-up with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, but for now she’s done everything asked of her.
Three matches, three straight-sets wins. Boring? Perhaps, but she won’t care a jot.
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