US Open 2026 Women’s Day 3

Elena Rybakina needed four match points to move into the US Open second round as she neutralised a late ace attack from a 17-year-old American wild card who saved three match points with untouchable serves.

Rybakina, who has never been past the fourth round in New York, managed a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Thea Frodin.

The young challenger denied the Kazakh seed on three winning chances in a penultimate game where she also threw in a double-fault. Rybakina served out victory a game later with an ace of her own.

A 12-year-old Frodin played a young Serena Williams in the 2021 film “King Richard,” about the father of Venus and Serena..

Australian Open champion Rybakina is duelling for a shot at the world No. 1 position, which she could obtain by reaching the semi-finals.  Also chasing Aryna Sabalenka are Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pugula.

“I’m definitely motivated. I feel like I had opportunities before and it didn’t go my way,” Rybakina said of another close call in Cincinnati with the top ranking.

Rybakina had to quit a Cincinnati quarter-final with a foot injury last month but is currently showing no signs of the problem. 

“With this injury, I feel like each day is important. Of course it would be an amazing achievement (to reach No. 1) but it’s still too far. I need to focus on my day off tomorrow, recovery, and just keep on going.”

Another reigning Grand Slam winner joined Rybakina in advancing, with Mirra Andreeva putting out Indonesian Janice Tjan 6-2, 6-2.

The 19-year-old set a personal best for most matches won in a season with 41 as she works to make in the second week of the only major where she not reached the second week.

2017 finalist Madison Keys made amends for her first-round ouster here a year ago with an efficient 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Alina Korneeva as rain continued to delay the programme on outside courts in New York.

Keys, appearing here for a 15th edition after starting her pro career at age 14, played the final nine years ago against Sloane Stephens.

She reached the semis at her home major in 2023 and was ale to easily go through her opening match on a covered showcourt as the first round entered an unorthodox third day.

Keys said it still feels intimidating to come back after a bad loss.

“Today is obviously tough. You go back on the court where you had a really tough loss, and to go back out and play another first round is always hard.

“I don’t know how long it took (to get over) the loss of last year. I kind of forgot about it, to be totally honest.

“But yeah, it’s always hard to come back to a place where you last played and it was a tough loss.

Main photo:- Elena Rybakina winning first round match – by WTATennis.com