Rybakina Beats Frodin to Begin US Open No. 1 Push

Elena Rybakina began her US Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 win over American wildcard Thea Frodin, returning successfully after a heel injury disrupted her preparation. BBC Sport reported that the second seed showed no obvious discomfort in the rain-delayed match and advanced while pursuing both another major title and the world No. 1 ranking.

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Rybakina had not competed since withdrawing during her Cincinnati Masters quarter-final against Iga Swiatek last month. She said there had been uncertainty over whether she would be able to play in New York, having gone seven days without tennis and with limited gym work. The 27-year-old described the result as encouraging only 10 days after the injury.

Her route to the top ranking is clear but remains dependent on results across the draw. Rybakina trails Aryna Sabalenka by 434 ranking points and will become No. 1 for the first time if she reaches the semi-finals, even if Sabalenka successfully defends the US Open title. BBC Sport added that Rybakina would also take top spot if Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all fail to win the tournament.

On court, Rybakina controlled the contest with her serve and baseline hitting. After opening with a double fault, she lost only three service points in the first set and produced three consecutive love holds. She faced her first break points in the sixth game of the second set and saved both, while converting her first three chances on Frodin's serve to establish a one-set, 5-1 lead.

Frodin, ranked 585th in the world, was making her WTA Tour main-draw debut after winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championship. The 17-year-old saved three match points with aces in her final service game and finished with 11 aces, forcing Rybakina to serve out the victory. Rybakina completed the match with her sixth ace, which BBC Sport identified as her tour-leading 363rd of the season.

The win keeps Rybakina's attempt to add the US Open to this year's Australian Open title on course. She is a two-time Grand Slam champion, but said she is approaching the rankings race one day at a time and focusing first on recovery after the injury rather than looking ahead to the later rounds.