US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina Makes Stunning Comeback From Injury, Wimbledon Semifinalist Arthur Fery Knocked Out
The US Open 2026 has already delivered plenty of drama and excitement in New York, with Elena Rybakina making a powerful return from injury while Wimbledon semifinalist Arthur Fery saw his campaign come to an abrupt end in the opening round.
Rybakina defeated 17 year old American wildcard Thea Frodin 6 3, 6 2 to advance to the second round. The victory marked her return to competitive action after she was forced to retire from her quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati because of a left ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Arthur Fery, who produced one of the biggest breakthrough performances at Wimbledon earlier this year, was beaten by 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6 3, 6 3, 7 5.
Rybakina’s victory keeps her hopes of becoming the new world number one alive, while Fery’s defeat brings an end to a remarkable few months that saw his ranking rise dramatically following his Wimbledon run.
Elena Rybakina Makes Strong Return After Injury
For Elena Rybakina, her opening round victory at the US Open was about much more than simply advancing to the second round. It was also a major test of her fitness and confidence after a worrying injury setback.
Rybakina had been forced to retire during her quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati after suffering a left ankle injury. The setback kept her away from competitive tennis for nearly two weeks.
Her return in New York therefore carried plenty of uncertainty. There were questions about whether the injury would affect her movement, serve and ability to compete in long rallies.
However, Rybakina quickly put those concerns to rest.
The former Wimbledon champion looked sharp from the opening points against Frodin. Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game allowed her to control the tempo and keep the young American under constant pressure.
Rybakina eventually completed the victory in just 1 hour and 14 minutes.
Rybakina Dominates Thea Frodin in Straight Sets
Rybakina established control early in the first set and did not allow Frodin to settle into the match.
The Kazakh player used her powerful groundstrokes to push Frodin behind the baseline and create opportunities to attack. Her serving remained one of her biggest weapons throughout the contest.
She took the opening set 6 3.
Frodin attempted to fight back at the beginning of the second set, but Rybakina continued to dictate play. The experienced star moved into a commanding 4 1 lead and appeared to be closing in on a comfortable victory.
The 17 year old American refused to give up. She saved two match points and later managed to fend off another opportunity.
But Rybakina remained composed and eventually closed out the second set 6 2.
The victory was particularly impressive given the uncertainty surrounding her fitness before the tournament.
World Number One Ranking Within Rybakina’s Reach
The US Open could become a historic tournament for Rybakina.
She entered the competition only 434 ranking points behind Aryna Sabalenka in the race for the world number one position.
Rybakina has a realistic opportunity to reach the top of the rankings for the first time in her career.
If she reaches the US Open semifinal, she can become world number one even if Sabalenka goes on to win the title.
The ranking situation could become even more complicated depending on the performances of Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
Rybakina has admitted that becoming world number one is a major motivation, but she is determined not to get distracted by the rankings.
Her immediate focus remains on winning one match at a time.
Rybakina Reveals Difficult Preparation After Injury
Rybakina’s preparation for the US Open was far from ideal.
Following her injury in Cincinnati, she spent around a week without playing tennis. She also could not do as much movement based training as she normally would before a Grand Slam.
That made her performance against Frodin even more encouraging.
Returning from an ankle problem requires confidence in movement, especially for a player whose game relies heavily on powerful serving and aggressive court positioning.
Rybakina showed no obvious signs of hesitation during the match and appeared comfortable moving around the court.
If she can maintain that level of fitness throughout the tournament, she could become one of the strongest contenders for the title.
Thea Frodin Makes Memorable Grand Slam Debut
Despite the defeat, Thea Frodin has plenty to be proud of.
The 17 year old American was competing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time. She earned her US Open wildcard after winning the USTA Girls Under 18 National Championship.
Facing a player of Rybakina’s quality in her first Grand Slam match was an enormous challenge.
Frodin nevertheless showed courage and determination throughout the contest. She continued fighting even when Rybakina established a significant advantage in the second set.
Saving multiple match points also demonstrated her ability to compete under pressure.
Although she could not produce a major upset, the experience could prove extremely valuable for her developing career.
Arthur Fery’s US Open Campaign Ends in First Round
While Rybakina celebrated a successful return, Arthur Fery’s impressive season suffered a disappointing setback in New York.
The British player had entered the US Open with enormous attention following his sensational Wimbledon campaign.
Fery had started the Wimbledon tournament as a wildcard and produced a series of outstanding performances to reach the semifinal.
His run became one of the biggest stories of the tournament and transformed his position in the world rankings.
However, his US Open journey lasted only one round.
Lorenzo Musetti Produces Clinical Performance Against Fery
Fery faced a difficult first round opponent in 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti.
The match was played on Grandstand Court, where Fery attempted to use his aggressive style to put Musetti under pressure.
Musetti responded with impressive baseline control and consistency.
The Italian took the first set 6 3, putting Fery on the back foot.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Musetti remained composed during the key moments and prevented Fery from building sustained momentum.
He won the second set 6 3 to move within one set of victory.
Fery refused to surrender.
The British player produced a much stronger effort in the third set and pushed Musetti into a tense battle. He fought for every point and attempted to force the match into a fourth set.
Musetti, however, held his nerve when it mattered most.
He eventually won the third set 7 5, completing a straight sets victory and ending Fery’s US Open campaign.
Fery’s Incredible Rise Continues Despite Defeat
Fery’s first round exit does not take away from what has been an extraordinary period in his career.
Before Wimbledon, Fery was ranked around 114th in the world. His spectacular run at the All England Club completely changed his career trajectory.
As a wildcard, he became one of the few British men in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon semifinals.
He was also only the second wildcard to reach the Wimbledon men’s singles semifinal.
Although he lost to Alexander Zverev in the semifinal, his performance earned him worldwide recognition and a huge ranking boost.
Following Wimbledon, Fery became Britain’s number one men’s player and reached a career high ranking.
He entered the US Open as the world number 33, a remarkable improvement compared with his ranking before Wimbledon.
His defeat against Musetti is therefore only a temporary setback in what could be the beginning of a major career.
Musetti Begins Grand Slam Comeback With Impressive Win
For Musetti, the victory was particularly important because he had missed the previous two major tournaments due to injury.
Returning to Grand Slam tennis after an injury layoff can be extremely difficult, especially against a player coming off a breakthrough performance at Wimbledon.
Musetti handled the pressure brilliantly.
His ability to stay patient during long exchanges while remaining aggressive when opportunities appeared proved decisive.
The Italian will now move into the second round with renewed confidence.
His next opponent will be Australia’s Dane Sweeny.
Gael Monfils Celebrates 40th Birthday With Historic Victory
Another emotional moment at the US Open came from French veteran Gael Monfils.
Playing at the tournament on his 40th birthday, Monfils produced a remarkable comeback against Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
After losing the opening set 2 6, Monfils completely turned the match around.
He won the next three sets 6 1, 6 2, 6 0 to secure a spectacular four set victory.
The result made Monfils the oldest player to win a US Open main draw match since Jimmy Connors achieved the feat in 1992.
The victory became even more memorable after the crowd celebrated his birthday by singing Happy Birthday inside the stadium.
For Monfils, it was a perfect combination of experience, resilience and emotion.
What Comes Next at the US Open
The opening round has already created several major storylines at the US Open 2026.
Rybakina’s successful return from injury could be one of the most important developments of the women’s tournament. With the world number one ranking within reach, every upcoming match carries additional significance.
Her next challenge will be maintaining her physical condition while continuing to produce the powerful tennis that makes her one of the most dangerous players on hard courts.
For Fery, the tournament may have ended earlier than expected, but his remarkable rise should not be overlooked.
His Wimbledon semifinal run has already changed the trajectory of his career. Moving from a ranking of 114 before Wimbledon to world number 33 at the US Open demonstrates just how quickly his fortunes have changed.
Musetti, meanwhile, will attempt to build on his impressive comeback when he faces Dane Sweeny in the second round.
Gael Monfils has also given fans another unforgettable US Open moment with his birthday victory.
The early action in New York has already demonstrated why the US Open remains one of the most unpredictable and electrifying events in tennis.
With Rybakina chasing the world number one ranking, Musetti building momentum and several established stars battling for survival, the tournament promises plenty of high intensity drama in the rounds ahead.
