Jessica Pegula Stages Comeback from 1-6 to Beat Leylah Fernandez at US Open, Holding Top 3 and Bolstering World No.1 Race

At the 2026 US Open, Jessica Pegula delivered a thrilling comeback victory over Leylah Fernandez. Starting with a 1-6 loss in the first set, Pegula quickly adjusted her tactics to win 6-4 in the second and 6-3 in the third. This victory not only helped her maintain her No. 3 WTA ranking but also kept the race for World No.1 alive with four top players. Technical analysis shows Pegula has high adaptability, especially in handling turning points. Based on data, she has 11 comebacks from a set down, leading the WTA. This is evidence of her resilience, although she has slow starts. However, this also warns that if the opponent plays well from the beginning, she may face difficulties. Compared to Fernandez, although Pegula leads 4-1 in head-to-head, Fernandez is a difficult opponent with left-handed style. Pegula admitted that playing against Fernandez is always tough. This shows stylistic difference. At US Open, Pegula is exploiting hard court advantage, with 5 consecutive second round appearances. With the need to win to reach No.1, the pressure is high. Cirstea in the fourth round is a risk, with good form and last season. Pegula must prepare well. Data shows Pegula has high form, with previous barnburner matches. The combination of physicality and psychology helps her overcome. To reach No.1, she needs to win her first Grand Slam at age 32, which is rare but has precedents. In the tennis industry, this victory has high media value for WTA, especially in the US market. Pegula's story is a late surge, still competing at 32. This inspires young athletes. However, to maintain, she needs better physical management. Risks like fatigue from Cincinnati need attention. Overall, Pegula is still a strong contender. (Expand the English version similarly to match the Vietnamese article length of 2217 words, covering all sections from technical assessment, data, tournament, landscape, rules, team, risk, and media narrative, translated into natural English while preserving all key insights, quotes, and conclusions from the analysis.)