NEW YORK -- Jessica Pegula was one of the first players to compete at the US Open, and she learned last year that starting Sunday provided some nice relief.
"It is a little bit weird, but I did kind of enjoy that I could breathe for the next couple of days and everyone else is still freaking out about whether they're going to win their first round," she said.
The head start is great -- unless it's a head start back to the airport.
"We were just talking about it, and I said it's so nice to play on Sunday when you win. But if you lose it's not nice, because you feel like the tournament didn't even start and you're out of it," No. 11 seed Marta Kostyuk said.
Pegula and Kostyuk both won easily and now get the benefit of an extra day of rest before returning for the second round.
The No. 3-seeded Pegula beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. She said she was nervous early, which makes sense given what could be at stake for the 2024 US Open runner-up.
Pegula leads the women's tour with 46 wins this season. She has two titles and has reached three other finals. Pegula can become No. 1 in the rankings if she wins her first major title and No. 2 Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals.
Pegula next faces the winner of the match between Venus Williams and fellow wild card Sofia Kenin. They were set to play in the nightcap at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Williams and sister Serena are scheduled to play doubles together.
"I felt really nervous before I went out there, but I know my coaches were like, 'You didn't really look that nervous. We thought you played great,'" Pegula said.
Kostyuk sure did, beating Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1 for a strong start to the year's final major after reaching the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
It was the second year of a Sunday start, though some of the biggest headliners don't begin until Monday. Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka plays her opening match against Camila Osorio. Past US Open champions Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens are also on the Monday schedule, along with Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
Other winners Sunday included No. 9 Elina Svitolina, No. 19 Jasmine Paolini and No. 31 Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up. No. 27 seed Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, lost 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Kamilla Rakhimova.
In total, seven matches couldn't be completed because of rain -- and one men's match was delayed even though it was being played in the other stadium with a retractable roof.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
