Jessica Pegula is back in familiar territory as she eyes another deep run at the U.S. Open, facing two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in a third-round showdown on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2024 runner-up and this year’s No. 4 seed has maintained a consistent presence in New York, reaching at least the third round for a sixth straight year. After a season that surged with three titles early on but cooled with early exits at Wimbledon and a string of North American hard-court events, Pegula has shown encouraging signs in the opening rounds this week, dispatching Mayar Sherif and Anna Blinkova with clean hitting and precise serving to control baseline exchanges.
Azarenka, now outside the world’s top 100, began her campaign with a two-hour win over American qualifier Hina Inoue before delivering a more efficient victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. While not at her peak, the 36-year-old Belarusian remains a dangerous competitor, especially with her reliable returns and ability to sustain extended rallies.
Pegula and Azarenka split their six prior meetings, each taking three wins. Their most recent clash came on clay in Charleston in 2024, a three-set affair won by Pegula.
Prediction: Pegula in straight sets. Azarenka will push long, physical rallies, but Pegula’s steadier baseline game and sharper form this season should carry her through in two sets. Pegula is expected to dictate with her backhand and use strong return games to blunt Azarenka’s returning pressure.
How to watch: Friday’s match is expected to start around 1:45 PM Eastern after the Alcaraz-Darderi clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium. ESPN will carry portions of the match as part of its whip-around coverage, with an ESPN+ dedicated stream available for subscribers.
Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
Expected Start Time: 1:45 PM Eastern
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing, NY
Court: Arthur Ashe Stadium
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and ESPN+
Additional context and what to watch for:
– Pegula’s form this year has shown she can surge when her serve is precise and her backhand is clicking, making her a formidable favorite to push deep at the Open.
– Azarenka’s resilience and return game can complicate Pegula’s rhythm, especially if the Belarusian can force longer exchanges and test Pegula’s patience.
– This matchup adds an intriguing dynamic: Pegula’s aggressive baseline consistency versus Azarenka’s return-oriented defense, with the winner likely to handle the ball pressure in the latter stages of the match.
Summary: Pegula, aiming to capitalize on solid early-round momentum, faces a seasoned yet currently lower-ranked Azarenka in a matchup that could test Pegula’s rhythm but offers a clear path for Pegula to advance in straight sets. The result could reinforce Pegula’s status as a strong U.S. Open title contender as the tournament progresses.