Jessica Pegula suffers first-round upset by Kimberly Birrell in French Open
Jessica Pegula suffers first-round upset by Kimberly Birrell in French Open
Teddy RicketsonTue, May 26, 2026 at 8:39 PM UTC
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American tennis player Jessica Pegula was bounced in the first round of the 2026 French Open by Kimberly Birrell.
Pegula was the fifth seed in the women’s singles draw, while Birrell was unranked. Birrell won the match 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The 32-year-old Pegula was participating in her ninth French Open. This is the third time she has been eliminated in the first round.
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Pegula’s best French Open finish was in 2022, when she made it to the quarterfinals. That year, she was eliminated in straight sets by Iga Świątek, who went on to win the tournament.
Pegula had built recent momentum at the Grand Slams. She made it to the semifinals of the 2025 US Open to end last year and the 2026 Australian Open to begin this year.
At the U.S. Open, Pegula was beaten by eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. The trend continued, as she lost to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open semifinals before Rybakina went on to beat Sabalenka in the final.
Birrell will face Oleksandra Oliynykova from Ukraine in Round 2. Oliynykova beat Elena Pridankina in the first round 6-1, 6-2.
Pegula will turn her attention to preparing for Wimbledon, which begins in late June.
Source: “AOL Sports”
