New York, September 4 (Daily Kiran) : Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan and American Coco Gauff have both advanced to the third round of the US Open 2026 women’s singles tournament.
Rybakina defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while Gauff overcame Paula Badosa to secure their places in the next round. With these victories, both players draw closer to the coveted number one ranking.
Rybakina showcased her skills by defeating Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets. Despite struggling to serve at 5-3 in the second set and dropping her first service game of the tournament, she made a strong comeback at Louis Armstrong Stadium, clinching the match with her fourth break.
Having reached the fourth round in the previous US Open, Rybakina is set to face Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva in the third round. The two previously met in the second round of the French Open, where Starodubtseva emerged victorious.
Coco Gauff is also inching closer to becoming the world number one. To achieve this, she must reach at least the semifinals. Gauff secured her spot in the third round by defeating Spain’s Paula Badosa in straight sets.
Gauff triumphed over Badosa with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in under two hours and will next compete against another Spanish player, Cristina Bucsa. The 22-year-old American star, who aims to repeat her 2023 US Open victory, had previously lost five of her last eight matches against Badosa. However, she delivered a confident performance in the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After her win, Gauff remarked, “I probably wouldn’t want to play against a player I’ve lost to multiple times in the second round. But I feel today’s match boosted my confidence. Winning in straight sets makes a big difference. I was tested, and I think it was a good match where I wasn’t on the court for three hours.”