Third seed Jessica Pegula will go up against compatriot Madison Keys in an all-American Round of 16 today, Monday, September 4, at the 2023 US Open.

World No. 3 Pegula has only dropped one set so far in a successful run at Flushing Meadows. The 29-year-old defeated Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round before sweeping past Patricia Maria Tig 6-3, 6-1 in the second.

Pegula then faced a bit more difficulty in the third round against twenty-sixth seed Elina Svitolina, who took a set off her. However, she bounced back and won the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Now, she will face her compatriot Keys on the main court in Arthur Ashe Stadium in a bid to reach the quarter-finals.

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Meanwhile, seventeenth seed Keys flew past Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-4, and Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-2. She then lost her first set in the third round against Liudmila Samsonova, but fought back to defeat the fourteenth seed and win the match 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Pegula leads head-to-head 

The two players have faced each other once before, in the quarter-finals of the 2022 San Diego Open just under a year ago. Pegula won the match in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. The WTA 500 event is also played on outdoor hardcourts, meaning it's a clearer indication of how they could play each other at the US Open.

However, while both players hit the same number of winners in their previous matches, Keys had fewer unforced errors, suggesting that Pegula will need to clean up her game a bit if she wants to secure herself a spot in the quarter-finals of the New York major.

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Keys also tends to have more power in her shots than Pegula, meaning she could have a chance at overwhelming her opponent.

Nevertheless, Pegula is not number 3 in the world for nothing, and her consistency as well as the fact that her groundstrokes are still strong and her serve generally better means that many are predicting that she will be the one to win the match.

Either way, it will be an engaging match for the American crowd, as they watch two home players face off against each other.

NC Tennis

@NCTennis_

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