Tennis-Pegula happy to share the spotlight with fellow American hope Gauff

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 29, 2023 Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in action during her first round match against Italy's Camila Giorgi REUTERS/Mike Segar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jessica Pegula may be the top ranked American at the U.S. Open but the third seed says she is happy to let red-hot compatriot Coco Gauff carry some of the burden of expectation as they bid to end the country's Grand Slam drought.

World number three Pegula and number six Gauff arrived in New York having won WTA 1000 titles to spark hopes of a first American women's major champion since Sofia Kenin lifted the trophy at the 2020 Australian Open.