UPDATED: Leylah Fernandez, Jessica Pegula, Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka advance in US Open

US OPEN

Venus Williams, left, congratulates her doubles partner Leylah Fernadez, who advances
in singles and doubles

UPDATED: Added results of Jessica Pegula.

With the US Open's favorite underdog, the Philippines Alex Eala, out in the second round, other women of Asian descent advanced to the third round.

With only two-days before the start of doubles competition, Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist, teamed up with the legendary Venus Williams to win their match against sixth-seed pair of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Although they’barely had time to practice together having agreed to play with each other two days earlier, they showed excellent teamwork, with Venus zinging winners from the baseline and Fernandez using her quick hands to deliver kill shots at the net. 

Up 5-3 in the second set, it was Fernandez’s turn to serve. The Filipino Canadian showed her competitive spirt, winning the game at 40-0 and, with Williams, winning the set, 6-3.

The day before, 22-year old Fernandez won her second round singles match against No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova. In the third round, Fernandez will face off against the top-seeded defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Playing with two-time US Open champion Williams was a thrill for Fernandez. "I was like a kid on Christmas day just jumping around," said the No. 31 seed Fernandez. "I was so happy. I don't think I stopped smiling for the whole night and even in the morning. I was just super happy and excited."

"She's the best partner I ever played with besides (sister) Serena (Williams)," said Venus Williams in interviews after their match. "We play the same style. I'm just a little bit bigger."

Fernandez was visibly moved by the praise, calling it “probably the biggest compliment I ever got.”

“Thank you, Venus,” she added. “Oh, man. I feel like those are big shoes to fill at the moment.”

Fernandez's match against  Sabalenka today will be a challenge but not impossible. Perhaps playing mind games, the  Belarusian said she doesn't recall the only time the two faced each other. Fernandez took three sets in a thrilling smi-final even though  fiercely fought Sabalenka, ranked No. 2 in 2021 when Fernandez was the underdog favorite and marched to the finals.

Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula

No. 4 ranked Jessica Pegula perhaps has the best chance of the Asian players making it to the finals. The Korean American has been there before. In 2024, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the finals.

Pegula owns a tour-best three singles titles on the season and shows signs of hitting her stride in time for the US Open. On Wednesday, she beat Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3.

On Friday, the 31-year old New Yorker will face two-time Australian Open champion and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who is unseeded for the tournament.

Emma Raducanu

If Fernandez upsets Sabalenka, she very well could face Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in a rematch. They ahven't played each other since the 2021 fnials, which was won by unranked Raducanu.

Playing the best tennis of her career since she shocked the tennis world by winning the 2021 US Open. The unranked Raducanu easily dispatched Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1. That sets up a the third round contest against No 9 seed Elena Rybakina. The Raducanu-Rybakina match be on Friday.

“I think I’ve had some tough draws but that also comes with the ranking I’m at. I have to accept it, I’m not seeded,” Raducanu told the PA news agency.

Naomi Osaka

No. 23 ranked Naomi Osaka has struggled since she won the US Open in 2020. Playing for Japan where she was born, Osaka has made it to the third round by liminating the United State's Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 6-1 in the second round Thursday.

Osaka, who had mental health struggles, left the tournament circuit after winning four Grand Slam tourneys. The 27-year old Osaka is regaining her competitive spirit but with a new outlook. 

"For me, I realize that I've done everything that I could. I've trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens," said Osaka, who lives and trains in Los Angeles.

At the top of her game, Osaka was once ranked No. 1 in the world. She next plays Australian No. 15 seed Daria Kasatkina in the third round on Saturday.

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