Elena Rybakina moved closer to the world number one ranking after a 6-3 6-2 opening win over 17-year-old wildcard Thea Frodin at the US Open. The result narrows the gap to Aryna Sabalenka to 434 points, putting Rybakina on the brink of the top spot if she reaches the semi-finals in New York.
The second seed, a two-time Grand Slam champion, returned to action after withdrawing midway through her Cincinnati quarter-final with a heel complaint last month. She showed no visible discomfort as she dictated points from the baseline and dominated on serve, dropping just three points in the first set and producing three consecutive love holds to close it out.
Rybakina did not face a break point until the sixth game of the second set, saving both when they came. She converted her first three break points of the match to accelerate to a set and 5-1 lead. Frodin, making her WTA Tour main-draw debut after winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championship, made the winner work late, saving three match points with aces in her final service game among 11 aces in the match.
Rybakina served out the victory with an ace, her sixth of the match and the tour-leading 363rd of the season. The result provided reassurance after a week without tennis and limited movement work in the gym, a run of downtime the 27-year-old described as part of her recovery plan. "I'm definitely motivated [to become world number one]," she said, adding that she will take things "day by day" and focus on a day off and recovery.
The ranking arithmetic favours Rybakina. She will ascend to number one by reaching the US Open semi-finals, even if Sabalenka defends her title. Additionally, she will secure the top ranking regardless of her own later results if none of Sabalenka, Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula lifts the trophy.
Rybakina leaves Flushing Meadows with momentum and serve statistics to back it, but she and her team will now prioritise recovery as the tournament advances and the race for the top ranking tightens.
