Rain disrupted much of the opening day's schedule at the US Open on September 1, 2026, but players with prime court assignments made the most of their opportunities. The No. 22 seed Madison Keys defeated 19-year-old Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof to reach the second round, while Elena Rybakina and Flavio Cobolli also progressed through their first-round matches.
Keys's steady performance against Korneeva provided relief after one of her toughest defeats in New York the previous year, when she lost in the opening round to world No. 82 Renata Zarazúa. According to the Associated Press, Keys had benefited from her early slot on the protected court, as rain had already delayed much of the schedule for players waiting outside.
A 15th Appearance Marks a Career Milestone
This year represents a significant milestone: Keys's 15th appearance at the US Open. The 31-year-old turned professional on her 14th birthday in February 2009, meaning she has spent the majority of her adult life competing at the sport's highest level. As the 2025 Australian Open singles champion, Keys reflected on the unusual nature of reaching such a milestone while still feeling young.
I was thinking a little bit more about it just because the last couple of days everyone keeps reminding me that it's my 15th US Open, which doesn't feel possible because I'm so young,Keys said, laughing.
It's just I think that in a lot of ways it's been a huge blessing I started so young, just because I really got to get into it at such a young age and when I didn't really even understand what was going on, so I was able to just kind of experience it in a really different way. 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.
How Do Players Manage Pre-Tournament Anxiety?
The tension in the locker room builds as the tournament progresses, Keys explained, with players collectively feeding off one another's nerves.
You can kind of feel [the tension] as the days are getting closer,she said.
Everyone gets here, you have a week, everyone is excited to be here, and then as the days are slowly getting closer to first rounds, rackets are maybe getting a little slippery, you can hear more yelling happening, and you can kind of feel the tension. I think collectively we all just get really anxious. 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.
Rybakina Moves Closer to World No. 1 Status
The No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina advanced to the second round with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old American wildcard Thea Frodin. According to the Associated Press, Frodin had previously worked as a body double for Serena Williams in the film *King Richard*. Rybakina appeared comfortable against her inexperienced opponent despite having sustained a foot injury at the Cincinnati Open that forced her to retire from her quarter-final against Iga Swiatek.
Rybakina currently sits at No. 1 in the live rankings and 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. Sabalenka, the defending champion, began her bid for a historic third consecutive US Open title on August 31, 2026, when she defeated Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round, a victory she must build upon to retain her world number one ranking.
Cobolli Stages Dramatic Comeback in Men's Draw
In the men's singles competition, the fifth seed and French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli produced one of the best comebacks of his career to escape a difficult first-round battle. Facing Francisco Comesaña, Cobolli recovered from a two-set deficit to secure a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory and advance to the second round.
What Happens Next
The opening round of the US Open continued on September 1, 2026, with additional first-round matches scheduled throughout the day. According to CBS Sports, remaining women's singles matches included Coco Gauff versus Zeynep Sonmez, Mirra Andreeva versus Janice Tjen, and Belinda Bencic versus Yulia Putintseva. The tournament runs through September 13, 2026, with seeded players like Keys and Rybakina now positioned to continue their campaigns in the second round.
Keys's recent form had been strong heading into the US Open. She claimed her third Eastbourne title in June 2026 by defeating Tatjana Maria 7-5, 6-4, joining tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in that achievement. However, she faced a setback at Wimbledon in July 2026 when Linda Noskova defeated her 6-4, 7-6(2) in the quarter-finals, making her opening-round victory at Flushing Meadows a significant step toward rebuilding momentum in the season's final major championship.
