US Open Spotlight: Pegula Faces Mayar Sherif in Opening Round
Hey everyone, let’s talk about a matchup that’s catching a lot of attention as the US Open kicks off this year: Jessica Pegula versus Mayar Sherif. This is set to be one of the first-round matches in the women’s singles, and honestly, it’s shaping up to be a clash of styles, even if the odds heavily favor one player.
Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 4 in the world, is coming in with a very strong record on hard courts. Over the past year, she’s won a tournament on this surface and compiled a 31-12 record, showing both consistency and a sharp tactical approach. Her service games have been solid, winning nearly 74% of them, and she’s been effective on returns too, converting close to 39% of those opportunities. Pegula’s ability to break opponents’ serves, ranking seventh in break points won on hard courts in the past 12 months, makes her a formidable opponent for anyone, and she enters this match as the clear favorite with a win probability of over 96%.
On the other hand, Mayar Sherif, currently ranked No. 102, has had a much tougher time on hard courts. She’s played 10 tournaments this year on the surface and has only managed a single win. Her service games are respectable at just under 60%, but her returns and break point conversions lag far behind, which is a key factor in why she’s considered the underdog here. Sherif has shown her best results on clay, and while she has had some notable performances, translating that to faster hard courts has been a struggle.
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Experts predict that Pegula’s experience, counterpunching style, and adaptability on the New York courts will likely see her through in straight sets. Analysts point out that Sherif will need to disrupt Pegula’s rhythm significantly to make this match competitive, which is no easy task given Pegula’s strong baseline game and tactical awareness. Last year’s runner-up seems poised for a comfortable victory, although, of course, in tennis, surprises can always happen.
In terms of recent form, Pegula was beaten in the Round of 32 at the Western & Southern Open by Magda Linette, but even that loss doesn’t take away from her overall momentum and reputation as a hard-court specialist. Sherif, meanwhile, was eliminated earlier this summer in Hamburg by Louisa Chirico, which highlights the gap she’ll need to overcome.
So, if you’re following the US Open closely, this match is definitely one to watch, mostly to see how Sherif tries to challenge Pegula’s dominance. While Pegula is heavily favored, her execution and mental sharpness will be key, and there’s always a chance Sherif could pull off a memorable upset, even if it seems unlikely on paper.
This opening round match will be played on Sunday, and it’s expected to be a showcase of Pegula’s precision and hard-court prowess against Sherif’s determination and clay-court experience, making it a fascinating start to the tournament.
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