Jessica Pegula has advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals after winning back-to-back matches over the holiday weekend.
The Buffalo native rallied past Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the third round on Friday, overcoming a slow start to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens.
Pegula acknowledged she is never comfortable facing Fernandez but credited her ability to dig deep after dropping the opening set.
"I knew today, especially the way that I started, I was going to have to dig deep," Pegula told U.S. Open reporters. "I had to find something in the second set to turn it around, but she's a great player, so that was very hard."
Pegula then secured her spot in the quarterfinals on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
The match featured some early struggles, but Pegula closed it out on her third match point when Cirstea sent a forehand long.
The quarterfinal appearance marks Pegula's third consecutive trip to the final eight at the U.S. Open. She reached the championship match in 2024 before falling to Aryna Sabalenka and was eliminated by Sabalenka in the quarterfinals in 2025.
Pegula enters the quarterfinals in strong form. She leads the WTA Tour with 33 hard-court victories this season and has amassed 49 match wins overall in 2026.
Born in Buffalo, Pegula is the daughter of Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula.
Pegula has often described the U.S. Open as her favorite tournament. She previously told USA TODAY Sports that competing in New York holds special significance because she is a New Yorker and appreciates the support she receives from local fans.
When does Jessica Pegula play next?
Pegula is scheduled to face No. 26 seed Emma Navarro of Charleston, South Carolina, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Pegula owns a 4-0 career record against Navarro, including a victory at the Cincinnati Open in August. The winner will advance to the semifinals.
How to watch Jessica Pegula at the U.S. Open
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN App
The 2026 U.S. Open runs through Sept. 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Jessica Pegula reaches U.S. Open quarterfinals. Here's when she plays next
