Rybakina Opens US Open With Commanding Win After Heel Injury

Elena Rybakina began her US Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old American wildcard Thea Frodin, producing an authoritative serving display in her return from a heel injury. BBC Sport reported that the second seed showed no apparent discomfort in her first match since withdrawing during her Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek last month.

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The result also kept Rybakina firmly in the race to become world No. 1 for the first time. According to the BBC, the 27-year-old trails Aryna Sabalenka by 434 ranking points and can guarantee the top position by reaching the semi-finals in New York, even if Sabalenka successfully defends the title. Rybakina could also rise to No. 1 regardless of her own finish if Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all fail to win the tournament.

Rybakina said the ranking opportunity provides motivation, but she stressed that her immediate focus remains recovery and the next round. Her fitness had been uncertain before the tournament: she said she had gone seven days without playing tennis and had also been limited in the gym after the injury. She described being able to compete at Flushing Meadows as a positive outcome only 10 days after the problem.

Once the rain-delayed match began, Rybakina quickly established control despite opening with a double fault. She lost only three points on serve in the first set and recorded three successive love holds. Frodin did not create a break-point opportunity until the sixth game of the second set, when Rybakina saved both chances.

The Australian Open champion was similarly effective on return, converting her first three break points to build a one-set, 5-1 advantage. Frodin, ranked 585th and making her WTA Tour main-draw debut after winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championship, extended the contest by saving three match points with aces in her final service game. She finished with 11 aces.

Rybakina then served out the match with her sixth ace, which BBC Sport listed as her tour-leading 363rd of the season. The straight-sets win supplied a controlled opening test after her injury layoff, while the ranking scenarios ensure that her progress through the New York draw will carry significance beyond another pursuit of a major title.