Pegula and Paul lead American charge into US Open second round
Paul beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, the 14th seed fending off 11 of 13 break points in front of the diehard fans who stayed late into the night under the lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Paul, who struggled in the run-up to New York with early exits from Cincinnati and Toronto, looked to have it all wrapped up until he dropped serve in the eighth game of the third set.
He roared back in the fourth set, however, winning the first two games and breaking Sonego again in the fifth. He will next play Australian Max Purcell.
"Better than I thought it was going to be. I came out and I actually played some pretty comfortable tennis," said Paul, who thanked the fans for sticking around until well past 1 a.m. to cheer him on.
"The fact that you guys are here is insane. I'm tired myself."
Sixth seed Pegula knocked out compatriot Rogers 6-4, 6-3 in the last match of the night on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was also the last match of Rogers' Grand Slam singles career, though she is set to play in the doubles.
"I expected to feel a lot of emotions but the main one, I think, is just gratitude," said Rogers.
Collins, who will also play doubles, has enjoyed a storybook final season and said she was at peace with her decision to step away from the game.
The 11th seed dominated the first set against unseeded compatriot Caroline Dolehide before her game crumbled in the second and she went on to lose 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner, eliminated Britain's former champion Emma Raducanu 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 on the Grandstand and she will play Pegula next.
Sebastian Korda cruised past France's Corentin Moutet 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-0 and will meet Czech Tomas Machac in the next round.
