MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Pegula's strong serve leads to victory over Bouzas Maneiro

Jessica Pegula secured a resounding victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro by 6-3, 6-3, reaching the Round of 16 at the US Open for the third consecutive year. The American dominated from the start, especially with her excellent first serve (87% of first serve points won) and positions herself as a local hope for the title.

Pegula continues with her best performance in a Grand Slam this year, after early exits in the second round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and missing the French Open. The American boasts a 12-1 record in the last month since the start of the hardcourt swing.

The 21-year-old Spaniard was one of the surprises in the third round after defeating the 31st seed Katie Boulter. From the start, Bouzas (No. 74) was not intimidated by Pegula's (No. 6) favoritism and kept the match even in the beginning, overcoming a couple of break points to take a 3-2 lead.

However, Pegula was waiting for her moment to break. With a 100% success rate on first serve points and 75% on the second, the American easily won her service games, gradually increasing the pressure on her opponent's serve. Pegula secured two consecutive breaks to take the set 6-3.

In the second set, Pegula's winning streak continued, reaching a 3-0 lead after seven consecutive games in her favor. The Spaniard responded by breaking Pegula's serve during a moment of weakness, but couldn't do much more for the rest of the match.

Bouzas managed only 5 winners compared to Pegula's 13, with the disparity in unforced errors being even more telling: 29 for the 21-year-old Spaniard compared to 17 for Pegula. Ultimately, the American maintained her good run towards the end of the match, securing a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory in just an hour and 10 minutes. Her next opponent will be the winner between veteran Sara Errani (No. 96) and the 20-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider (No. 18).