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    Jessica Pegula takes down Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to cruise into US Open fourth round

    By Mollie Walker,

    4 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49UGAu_0vGll1os00

    Jessica Pegula is on to the fourth round of the U.S. Open for a third straight year.

    The No. 6-seeded American has still yet to concede a set in the tournament after defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday afternoon inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

    Matching her 2023 results and inching closer to her career-best quarterfinal finish from 2022, Pegula will play Russia’s Diana Shnaider on Monday.

    “This is the one I feel like is the most pressure, but at the same time, when I was younger, I always had better results at,” Pegula said when asked how she’s seen herself evolve in the tournament since her debut in 2015. “I qualified here twice, was able to get my first main draw win of a slam here, as well. I think there was a lot of positives, even with the pressure. It’s not like I exactly love the conditions here, either, I feel like I play just as well at the other slams.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3WcrPr_0vGll1os00
    Jessica Pegula celebrates match point over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro during their women’s singles third round match on day six of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 31, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

    “But I think, for some reason, I’ve been able to kind of use that momentum of being an American at the U.S. Open and do pretty well.”

    Caroline Wozniacki advances to US Open fourth round with emphatic win

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GzJoZ_0vGll1os00
    Jessica Pegula (USA) hits to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) on day six of the 2024 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

    In the first meeting between the two, the Battle of the Jessicas, if you will, Pegula rightfully looked like the veteran.

    Pegula won seven of the match’s nine rallies of nine or more shots, while also blasting three aces in comparison to Maneiro’s zero.

    Committing just 17 unforced errors, Pegula played a much tighter match than Maneiro, who hit 29.

    After trading off the first four games of the first set, Pegula clawed back from down 40-15 before failing to convert on a break point to drop a 14-point fifth game.

    US Open tennis fans are disgusting boozehounds — but at least we’re not the world’s rudest

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4T0Y1X_0vGll1os00
    USA’s Jessica Pegula celebrates her victory of Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at the end of their women’s singles third round match on day six of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. AFP via Getty Images

    A long rally ended with Pegula hitting one out of bounds after the two battled through four deuces.

    Maneiro, who couldn’t make it out of qualifiers at the Open last year, lost some control from there. It made for a relatively easy and quick final four games for Pegula.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4eDlWi_0vGll1os00
    Jessica Pegula of the USA returns a ball to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

    Despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the second set, Pegula allowed Maneiro to even it up at three all to keep the match competitive.

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    Maneiro was clearly grinding, which paved the way for Pegula to take control.

    The 30-year-old Pegula handily took the next three, powering through the final 12 straight points.

    One of just three American women on to Round 4, along with Coco Gauff and Emma Navarro, Pegula is the vet by a few years.

    Gauff and Navarro are scheduled to square off on Sunday, which means Pegula could be one of the last two American women in the tournament.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3zkoV1_0vGll1os00
    Jessica Bouzas Maneiro is now out of the U.S. Open. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

    Having beaten Schnaider 6-4, 6-3 on her way to winning Toronto in mid-August, Pegula is prepared to see the 20-year-old Russian make some adjustments.

    “Toronto, I felt like I was playing really well during that whole week, so it’s tough to compare,” she said. “I mean, we’re in a different city, different conditions, different situation. I feel like she’s definitely going to know more of what to expect because that was our first time playing each other, and she’s been super match-tough this year. Had a lot of good wins. Having an amazing year and kind of has proven herself to be a top-20 player for sure.

    “I’m just going to try and use what I did well the last match and hopefully it works, but I think I’m going to have to be ready as well for her to kind of adapt and maybe change a few things from the last time we played.”

    For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/

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