Pegula and Shelton roll into round of 16; Navarro faces Kalinskaya in nightcap
Day 8 of the U.S. Open featured straight-set wins for Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Carlos Alcaraz, and Aryna Sabalenka, while Linda Noskova needed three sets to advance. The night session concluded with Emma Navarro taking the first set against Anna Kalinskaya at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Navarro broke late to secure the opening set 6-4.
Day 8 at Flushing Meadows saw a parade of top seeds advance without dropping a set, including Pegula, Shelton, Tiafoe, Alcaraz, and Sabalenka. Noskova was the lone exception, requiring three sets to move on. The night session featured a tightly contested opening frame between Kalinskaya and Navarro, with both players holding serve comfortably until Navarro capitalized on a late double fault to break and take the set 6-4. Navarro lost only three points on her serve across four holds, while Kalinskaya sealed several games with aces.
This match could shape the tournament's narrative around American tennis, as Navarro's potential advancement would join several U.S. players already in the round of 16. A deep run may boost domestic viewership and inspire younger players, while Kalinskaya's exit would narrow the field of international contenders. The late-night drama also highlights how evenly matched top-30 players can be, with small moments like a single double fault deciding sets.