Elena Rybakina Beats Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at US Open

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina reached the third round of the US Open on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The Kazakh player controlled much of the contest before closing out the match in just over an hour.

Rybakina’s win was notable after the uncertainty surrounding a left heel injury in the lead-up to the tournament. She moved well during the match and did not show visible effects of the issue that had made her prospects a talking point before the US Open began.

Rybakina regains control after late break

The second seed established the advantage early, taking the opening set 6-2 as her heavy, deep ground strokes and big serving posed persistent problems for Bouzas Maneiro. The Spanish baseliner struggled to handle the pressure Rybakina created through much of the match.

Rybakina continued to hold the initiative in the second set and moved within a game of victory while serving at 5-3. Bouzas Maneiro raised her level at that stage and broke serve, delaying the finish and cutting the margin to 5-4.

There was no extended recovery needed from Rybakina. She immediately broke back, attacking Bouzas Maneiro’s serve with forceful returns to seal the 6-4 second set and complete the straight-sets win.

After the match, Rybakina said she was “super glad” and “super happy” to be at the tournament. She also said she was very proud of her level through the first two rounds, particularly after an imperfect preparation period.

The result continues a strong season for Rybakina, the 2026 Australian Open champion and 2022 Wimbledon champion. Before arriving at the US Open, she reached the final in Toronto and won matches in Cincinnati. Her Cincinnati run ended when she was forced to retire from her quarter-final because of injury, leaving her status for the New York major uncertain.

Instead, Rybakina has begun her US Open campaign with two wins and has advanced to the third round. Her previous best result at the tournament came in 2025, when she was beaten in the fourth round by Marketa Vondrousova.

Starodubtseva awaits in the third round

Rybakina will next face Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva, who came through a three-set match against Maria Sakkari. Starodubtseva lost the first set 6-1 before recovering to win 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

The meeting gives Rybakina an immediate chance to respond to a difficult result from earlier this year. Starodubtseva defeated her in the second round at Roland Garros, making the upcoming US Open match a rematch of that surprise.

There is also a major rankings incentive in Rybakina’s path. She needs three more victories to reach the semi-finals, a result that would guarantee she overtakes Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the world rankings. For now, the focus is on a third-round test against Starodubtseva after a composed two-set performance against Bouzas Maneiro.