Elena Rybakina said it was so far, so good with her left heel injury after she eased into the second round of the US Open with a straight sets victory over US teen Thea Frodin.
The second-ranked Kazakh has her sights not only on a third Grand Slam but also the world No 1 ranking – which she could claim just by reaching the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
Her 6-3, 6-2 victory over the powerful but erratic Frodin was a polished performance, and an encouraging one after the injury that flared up to force her out of her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal.
Make that 8 straight Grand Slam hardcourt wins for Elena Rybakina! pic.twitter.com/uYxLeyDk7S
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2026
"I'm happy with the match. Especially when you don't know your opponent, it always can be dangerous, but overall I'm happy with the first match and how it went," she said.
"It's a great result after 10 days from that kind of injury."
Rybakina had been reassured in Cincinnati when the physio told her she hadn't torn her Achilles tendon.
But she was unable to walk without pain for several days and is still cautiously managing her training, rest and treatment.
The road to world No.1 starts now 🫡
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2026
Elena Rybakina defeats Frodin 6-3, 6-2. pic.twitter.com/YqgrPyBZOc
"When I went to serve, I realised I cannot push from the leg. So it was impossible to continue," she said.
"From that, we started my recovery. We didn't know if I'm going to be able to play here or not.
"We were taking day by day. I was not playing for the full week, so seven days no tennis and basically not too much gym I could do movement-wise.
"Right now, I feel okay," she said after the match. "Of course we'll see again day by day how I wake up tomorrow since it's the first match and kind of a lot of movement."