On a rainy afternoon in New York filled with frustrating delays for the majority of players waiting to enter the court for the first-round matches at the US Open, Madison Keys took advantage of her prime court assignment under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof by closing out Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round. This year marks a milestone 15th US Open appearance for the 31‑year‑old Keys, who turned professional on her 14th birthday in February 2009. The 2025 Australian Open singles champion has spent her recent days reflecting on the fact that she has now officially worked as a tennis player for the majority of her life.
But it’s definitely been, I think, the most interesting, because I feel like as a person I’ve changed a lot throughout the years and kind of just evolved as a person while getting to kind of do the same job.” Keys’s steady performance against Korneeva was a particular relief in the context of one of her toughest defeats in New York, losing in the first round last year against the world No 82 Renata Zarazúa. Keys explained later how palpable the tension is in the locker room as players try to shake off their pre-tournament nerves and settle into the event. We’re probably feeding off of each other as well, but we all want to do well.
It all feels like I think the buildup is always so hard, just because you’re so in it and you’re anticipating the tension that’s going to happen and the anxiety that’s going to happen. So it’s definitely very relevant and very real.” Elena Rybakina took a positive step forward in her pursuit of the No 1 ranking as she moved into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 win against the 17‑year‑old American wildcard Thea Frodin. Rybakina sustained a foot injury at the Cincinnati Open that forced her to retire from her quarter-final against Iga Swiatek, but she appeared comfortable on court here against her inexperienced opponent.
Rybakina sits at No 1 in the live rankings and she will become the world No 1 for the first time in her career if she reaches the semi-finals and if Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff do not win the tournament. In the men’s draw, the fifth seed and French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli produced one of the best comebacks of his career to escape a tough first-round battle with Francisco Comesaña, recovering from a two-set deficit to reach the second round with a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win.
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