Elena Rybakina has a lot to earn at the 2026 US Open. The issue was that she entered the final major of the year with a bit of an injured foot or heel. She was going to have to prove to herself and others that she was fit enough to chase the title.
If she even reached the semifinal, she would overtake current WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the top spot. Reaching that deep in the New York major is something Rybakina hasn't done, however. Her best finish was losing in the fourth round in 2025.
Her run in 2026 began by facing a player who likely wasn't ready for the moment. 17-year-old American Thea Frodin had won a junior event, which allowed her to get into the main draw of her home nation's Grand Slam. To be fair to Frodin, even though she isn't yet at Rybakina's level, she played pretty well for someone her age against such a fantastic player.
Elena Rybakina defeats young Thea Frodin in the first round of the US Open
Frodin didn't hand Rybakina the match, but the Kazakhstani had to take it, and that she did. Through immense forehands and an electric serve, she kept getting through her own games to push Frodin on hers. This wasn't anything fans in New York didn't expect, and those watching at the grandstand court cheered appreciatively for both players.
Even winning three games in the first set will help Frodin's confidence moving forward. She had a chance to get to 2-3 in the second set after being broken early, but she then dipped in form, perhaps running out of steam a bit in the biggest match of her life. Frodin had three double faults, and Rybakina got the break to lead 4-1.
Again, to the credit of Frodin, she was playing fairly efficiently, having close to the number of winners for the match as she had unforced errors. What likely made the match better for Rybakina was that she was moving well, showing no issues with her foot, and looking like she would definitely make it past the fourth round this year.
Serving at 4-1, Rybakina did face two break points, but she fought off both to lead 5-1. The break points were the only ones that Frodin would have in the match. Rybakina would serve out the set 6-2.
Elena Rybakina will next face the winner of the match between Darja Vidmanova and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The WTA No. 2 will be the heavy favorite. She should remain that through most of her draw, with a real chance to be No. 1 by the end of the US Open.
Add us as a preferred source on Google