NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina arrived at the US Open carrying questions about her fitness. Two matches later, the world No. 2 is beginning to look like one of the most dangerous players left in the women’s draw — and her ambitions in New York extend beyond simply lifting another Grand Slam trophy.
Rybakina powered past Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-4 on September 3, booking her place in the third round of the 2026 US Open with another clinical straight-sets victory.
The second seed seized control almost immediately at Louis Armstrong Stadium, racing to a 3-0 advantage before closing out the opening set in just 30 minutes. Bouzas Maneiro offered more resistance in the second, but Rybakina’s heavy groundstrokes and relentless pressure repeatedly forced the Spaniard onto the defensive.
There was one brief wobble.
Serving for the match, Rybakina was broken for the first time during her US Open campaign. Instead of allowing Bouzas Maneiro back into the contest, however, the Kazakh star immediately responded by breaking serve in the following game to finish the match.
It was precisely the sort of response expected from a player attempting to win her third major championship.
From Injury Doubts to Title Contender
What makes Rybakina’s start in New York particularly significant is what happened before she arrived.
Her US Open preparations were disrupted after she retired from the Cincinnati Open with a leg problem and concerns involving her Achilles tendon. Reuters reported that the issue forced her to take about a week away from playing and training, leaving genuine uncertainty over how her body would respond once Grand Slam competition began.
Rybakina admitted her preparation had been far from ideal, saying she spent much of the buildup focusing on recovery and gym work while watching other players practise.
But so far, the injury concerns have hardly been visible on court.
In the opening round, Rybakina defeated 17-year-old American wild card Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2. The official US Open website noted afterward that Rybakina remained cautious about her physical condition, saying she would assess it “day by day.”
Against Bouzas Maneiro, she looked even sharper.
Rybakina Is Chasing More Than a US Open Trophy
The stakes are particularly high because Rybakina is not simply trying to win her first title at Flushing Meadows.
She also has an opportunity to challenge for the world No. 1 ranking.
The WTA currently lists the 27-year-old at a career-high No. 2, while the US Open has identified the battle for the top ranking as one of the major storylines surrounding her run in New York. Reuters reported that winning the tournament could put Rybakina in position to climb to the top of the rankings.
That would represent another milestone in what has already become one of the strongest seasons of her career.
Rybakina won the 2026 Australian Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final to capture her second Grand Slam singles championship. Her first came at Wimbledon in 2022.
She has also won Stuttgart this season and reached major finals elsewhere on tour, including Indian Wells and Toronto. The WTA lists her 2026 record at 42 wins and 13 losses entering this stage of the US Open.
The contrast with her previous US Open record is striking.
Despite her success at Wimbledon and Melbourne, New York has historically been Rybakina’s least productive Grand Slam. Her previous best result at Flushing Meadows was reaching the fourth round in 2025.
That ceiling could soon be broken.
Next Up: Yuliia Starodubtseva
Rybakina will next face Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva, who fought back to eliminate No. 32 seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.
The US Open confirms Starodubtseva’s second-round meeting with Sakkari, while Reuters reported that the Ukrainian’s comeback victory set up the third-round clash with Rybakina.
On paper, Rybakina will enter as the clear favorite.
But the bigger question surrounding her tournament may no longer be whether her injured leg can survive a few rounds.
It is whether anyone in New York can prevent one of the most powerful players in women’s tennis from turning an uncertain US Open arrival into a run at two prizes at once — a third Grand Slam title and the world No. 1 ranking.
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