On Wednesday at the US Open, five women progressed to the third round with results not only encouraging for their chances at Flushing Meadows, but for their trajectories more generally.
With all advancing in the same half of the draw, it sets the stage for some fascinating match-ups and storylines as the tournament unfolds.
Leylah Fernandez
Five years ago, Fernandez commenced a run at the US Open that saw her go from promising teenage talent to bona fide Grand Slam star.
In the third round in 2021, the then-world No.73 upset third seed Naomi Osaka, then backed that up with wins over three-time major champion Angelique Kerber, fifth seed Elina Svitolina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka in an enthralling path to the decider.
Although she fell to qualifier Emma Raducanu in the unlikeliest of finals, she would go on to peak at world No.13 the following year.
Injuries and form struggles have affected her in the years since, but she’s started strongly in New York with two straight-sets victories, the latest over Thai Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
She’s back in the third round and just like 2021 she faces the No.3 seed – this time Jessica Pegula, whom Fernandez beat in their previous meeting in Washington DC last year.
Could she repeat what she achieved five years on and rediscover the magic at Flushing Meadows?
Emma Navarro
More recently, Emma Navarro was an ascendant star pushing Sabalenka to the limit in a compelling US Open 2024 semifinal.
That result pushed her inside the top 10, making her subsequent fall to world No.39 in May 2026 all the more disheartening.
Navarro, who has not reached the second week of a major since Wimbledon last year, missed two months of competition earlier in 2026 due to health issues. In an interview with Bounces, she admitted: “The tour is tough, and it’ll take it out of you. It’s constant travel and a lot of stress on the body and the mind.”
Yet in just the third tournament of her return, she won the biggest title of her career in Strasbourg (a WTA 500).
She’s 18-8 since the beginning of that tournament, has restored her ranking to 27th and is back in the third round in New York.
“Maybe I’m a little bit more under the radar than I was last year, but also the year before [when she reached the 2024 semifinals] everyone was telling me I was so under the radar,” she said.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m back under the radar a little bit just because I’m not ranked in the top 10, or top 15, top 20. I don’t really pay attention to that stuff too much.”
Karolina Muchova
Navarro's attention will instead be on her next opponent Muchova, who has been flourishing so far in New York.
That may come as no surprise given that in her last major tournament, at Wimbledon, Muchova reached the final and hit a career-high ranking of world No.6.
Yet then came the news that she had undergone surgery, the recovery from which would wipe out her entire North American summer hardcourt lead-up. It was the latest in a long line of setbacks for the oft-injured Czech.
Still, the US Open is a tournament where Muchova has historically thrived and it’s been no different in 2026, where she scooped the mixed doubles title with compatriot Jakub Mensik last week.
She’s carried that form into the singles event, showing few signs of physical issues in surrendering just four games en route to the last 32.
“I appreciate every moment on the court more, I would say, throughout the years,” said Muchova after beating Katie Boulter 6-1 6-0 on Wednesday. “Every little practice is kind of special, so I’m just glad this season worked out for me the way it is.”
Jasmine Paolini
Also showing great form at Wimbledon was Paolini, who reached the quarterfinals – her best Grand Slam result in two years.
And just like Muchova, she didn’t compete between Wimbledon and the US Open; a foot injury forced her to skip tournaments in Washington DC, Toronto and Cincinnati.
Paolini, a former world No.4 and two-time Slam finalist, arrived in New York this year ranked outside the top 20 for the first time since February 2024.
After surviving in three sets in the first round, Wednesday’s 6-4 6-1 win over fellow Italian Lucrezia Stefanini sets up a third-round clash with in-form Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
The winner of that takes on either Fernandez or Pegula.
Aryna Sabalenka
Including the world No.1 in this rundown might seem strange, but Sabalenka is also searching for form.
She has not reached a tournament final since winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back in March, and her top ranking – which next week she will have held for 99 consecutive weeks – is under threat from world No.2 Elena Rybakina, who could wrest it away from her by reaching the semifinals.
Early signs indicate, however, that Sabalenka’s game is benefitting from a return to Flushing Meadows, where she is the two-time defending champion.
After beating Camila Osorio in round one, she overwhelmed Polina Iatcenko 6-1 6-1 under lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, extending her US Open winning streak to 15 matches.
“I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season. Once again, I'm not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I'm happy with my level [now],” said Sabalenka, who next faces Kamilla Rakhimova.
“I can definitely say that mentally I'm way stronger than I was in the middle of the season, and physically I also feel stronger.”