Rybakina Clears First US Open Test After Injury Layoff

Elena Rybakina made a successful return from injury at the US Open, defeating 17-year-old American wildcard Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round on Tuesday. The second seed completed the victory in one hour and 14 minutes on Grandstand after an extended rain delay disrupted the schedule in New York.

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BBC Sport and the WTA reported that this was Rybakina's first match since she retired during her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek in August. Although the limited number of long rallies meant her movement was not subjected to a severe examination, the 27-year-old showed no obvious discomfort and controlled most of the match with her serve and baseline power.

Rybakina recovered from a double fault on the opening point and established the first-set advantage by breaking Frodin in the sixth game. She did not face a break point until the second set, when she erased both opportunities with unreturned serves. The Kazakh player broke three times overall and finished the match with six aces, sealing victory with one of them.

Frodin, ranked outside the top 500, was playing in her first WTA Tour main draw after earning a place by winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championships. She produced 11 aces and saved three match points with aces in her final service game, but Rybakina's steadier return game and greater consistency proved decisive. The WTA recorded 21 unforced errors from the teenager.

The result also maintained Rybakina's push to become world No. 1 for the first time. BBC Sport reported that she began the tournament 434 ranking points behind Aryna Sabalenka. A run to the semi-finals would guarantee Rybakina the top position, even if Sabalenka successfully defends the title. Rybakina could also rise to No. 1 earlier if Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all fail to win the tournament.

Rybakina said after the match that the ranking remains a motivation, while stressing the need to focus on recovery and proceed one day at a time. The reigning Australian Open champion is seeking her second major title of the season and third Grand Slam singles trophy overall, but her immediate achievement was a composed first-round win after a period in which her participation in New York had been uncertain.