Tennis: Paul and Pegula lead Americans into second round of US Open

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula led the American team into the second round of the U.S. Open, ending play on New York’s show courts on Tuesday, while Danille Collins and Shelby Rogers were forced to end their careers as Grand Slam tennis players after defeats.

Paul defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. The 14th seed saved 11 of 13 break points in front of die-hard fans who stayed late into the night under the floodlights of Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Paul, who had struggled with early exits in Cincinnati and Toronto ahead of his trip to New York, seemed to have the match in the bag until he lost serve in the eighth game of the third set.

However, he fought back in the fourth set, winning the first two games and breaking Sonego again in the fifth. He will next play against Australian Max Purcell.

“Better than I thought. I came out and played pretty relaxed tennis,” said Paul, who thanked fans for staying until well after 1 a.m. to cheer him on.

“It’s crazy that you’re here. I’m tired myself.”

Sixth-seeded Pegula beat fellow countrywoman Rogers 6-4, 6-3 in the final match of the evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was also the last match of Rogers’ Grand Slam singles career, although she will compete in the doubles.

“I expected to feel a lot of emotions, but I think the most important thing is just gratitude,” Rogers said.

Collins, who will also play doubles, had a fairytale final season and said she was at peace with her decision to retire from the sport.

The 11th seed dominated the first set against unseeded compatriot Caroline Dolehide before her game collapsed in the second set and she lost 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Sofia Kenin, the winner of the 2020 Australian Open, eliminated former British champion Emma Raducanu in the stands 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 and will play Pegula next.

Sebastian Korda defeated Frenchman Corentin Moutet comfortably with 7:6(3), 6:1, 6:0 and will face Czech Tomas Machac in the next round.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery and Karl Plume in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)