Overview
- Rybakina beat Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2 in a 74-minute match on Tuesday, serving six aces and surrendering no break points.
- She is carrying a left heel/Achilles problem that forced her to retire in Cincinnati and required a week-long break from training before the tournament.
- Rybakina said she is taking recovery day by day and will monitor how she wakes up after each match as she manages treatment and limited movement.
- Former world No.1 Andy Roddick and other commentators flagged signs that she was protecting the leg despite strong ball striking, raising questions about how deep she can go.
- A semifinal at the US Open would secure the official WTA world No.1 for Rybakina and she will next face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro with the ranking prize still in reach.