Rybakina beats Frodin 6-3 6-2 at US Open and says she is "motivated" in race for world No.1
Elena Rybakina defeated 17-year-old wildcard Thea Frodin 6-3 6-2 at the US Open on 1 September 2026 and said she was "motivated" by the race to become world number one while stressing a step-by-step approach.
The 27-year-old second seed was playing her first match since withdrawing midway through her Cincinnati Masters quarter-final with a heel injury last month and arrived at Flushing Meadows with questions over her fitness after retiring injured against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati. Rybakina is a two-time Grand Slam champion and took the court in New York as the world number two.
On court she showed little sign of the recent problem as she eased past Frodin, who entered as a wildcard and is ranked 585 in the world, dictating rallies from the baseline and controlling play throughout the straight-sets victory.
Rybakina began the rain-delayed match with a double fault but was otherwise dominant on serve, dropping just three points and producing three consecutive love holds to build her advantage in the opening set. She converted her first three break points to move into a set and 5-1 lead, and did not face a break point until the sixth game of the second set, saving both when they came.
The match featured a flurry of aces late on: Rybakina closed out the win with an ace that was her sixth of the match and the tour-leading 363rd of the season, while Frodin saved three match points with aces in her final service game among 11 aces across the contest.
Frodin was making her WTA Tour main-draw debut after winning the United States Tennis Association Girls' 18s National Championship and is also known for acting as Serena Williams' body double in the film King Richard.
Rybakina addressed the ranking chase and her fitness in her post-match remarks, saying: "I'm definitely motivated [to become world number one]." She added: "I feel like I had opportunities before and it didn't go my way. It will be an amazing achievement but it's still too far and I need to focus on my day off tomorrow, my recovery, and just keep on going." On her physical condition she said: "We will see day by day," and "I wasn't playing or doing much physically [in the build-up to the tournament]. "It's just one step at a time. The most important thing is to recover and listen to the body. For now, I'm ok." She also reflected on her opponent: "She played really well today. She has great shots, great serve, it was no easy," and added, "I'm just happy to be here. I really enjoyed it."
Rybakina, who trails Aryna Sabalenka by 434 points in the world rankings, will become world number one for the first time if she reaches the semi-finals in New York even if Sabalenka defends her title; she will also secure the top ranking if none of Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula lift the trophy.
