Osaka, Pegula advance while the US Open ends for Raducanu and Fernandez

Korean American Jessica Pegula makes the round of 16 at the US Open.

Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka advanced to the round of 16 while Emma Raducanu's and Leylah Fernandez's dreams of once again playing in the US Open finals will have to wait.

It only took an hour and a half for No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula to defeat three-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 Friday at the US Open in Flushing, NY.

“I thought I moved really well. I thought I scrambled really well,” said Pegula. “I really wanted to make the match physical. We train together a lot in Florida, so we know each other’s games so well. We’ve played a lot. I could tell she was struggling a little bit physically, so I wanted to keep her moving, keep going after my shots and playing aggressively.”

FYI: Former US Open champion Naomi Osaka is playing Daria Kasatkina right now. Check back later for updates:

Pegula, a Korean American born in Buffalo, N.Y., moves on to play against fellow American, 25-year old Ann Li from Pennsylvania.

Friday’s win marked Pegula’s 14th straight victory against an opponent ranked outside the Top 50 at the US Open. Her last loss came against Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in 2019.

On Saturday, Naomi Osaka, playing for Japan where she was born, showed that when she's focused, she can be pretty intimidating. 

After easily winning her first set against Australia's Daria Kasatkin, 6-0, she lost concentration and dropped the second set, 4-6. She finally put it all together in the third set with her strong baseline volleys, winning 6-3.

She'll face American Coco Gauff., ranked No. 4, in the next round Monday, where Osaka, No. 23 will be the underdog.

When asked about facing Gauff, Osaka said, “Can somebody come to the match and cheer for me? It’s kinda tough playing an American here but I feel like you guys have adopted me as well," as the crowd applauded in agreement. 

Osaka and Gauff are well acquainted with each other. "I kind of see her as a little sister," said the older Osaka. They've met seven times in tournaments around the world and "little sister" holds a slight edge, 4-3.

Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez did not fare as well as Pegula. and Osaka.

Before her match with Filipino Canadian Leylah Fernandez , No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka feined disinterest and said she couldn't remember her 2021 game when Fernandez beat her on her way to the 2021 US Open finals.

After beating Fernandez, she revealed her true feelings. "I really wanted this revenge," she said after beating the 22-year old Filipino, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Fernandez gave her a game, though, finding her rhythem in the second set.

The team of Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez are surprising an formidable on the court.

Fernandez's time at the US Open is not over, however. She can now concentrate on her doubles match with her teammate, 45-year old Venus Williams.

The pair teamed up only two days before the tournament began but they are surprising the doubles' specialists. They advanced to the round of 16 Saturday, after defeating doubles specialists Ulrike Eikeri and Eri Hozumi with a 7-6(1), 6-1 victory.

Originally Fernandez was supposed to play with Marie Bouzkova. But had to scramble to find a new partner as the Czech ace withdrew with injury. “Why not just ask Venus Williams? I mean, you know, the worst she can say is no, right?" Fernandez told the NY Post.

Britain's Emma Raducanu's revival came to a screeching halt Friday when was ousted from the US Open as she was overwhelmed by fKazhakstan's Elena Rybakina in the third round.

Raducanu, 22, was hoping for a statement win over an elite player as evidence of her recent progress, but wound up with a 6-1 6-2 defeat in just 62 minutes.

"It was a difficult experience facing her when‘s she playing so well. I just feel that in every department she was better," Raducanu told BBC Sport.

"I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I've been doing," said the Brit Chinese.

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