In a rain‑soaked start to the 2026 U.S. Open, local tennis fans got to see a bright spot: Madison Keys, the 31‑year‑old American, moved into the second round after a hard‑fought victory over 19‑year‑old Russian Alina Korneeva. The match, played in Arthur Ashe Stadium, ended 7‑5, 6‑4.
Rain forces limited play on outer courts
Showers that began Monday night persisted through Tuesday, delaying action on all the outer courts at Flushing Meadows. Only the two main venues with retractable roofs – Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium – were able to host matches, keeping the tournament on schedule for the next few days.
Keys battles a rising talent
Keys, seeded 22nd, said the experience was “tough” because Korneeva was “young and up and coming” and eager to chase every shot. “It’s so hard to play a first round of a Grand Slam, so nervous and just wanting to do so well,” Keys explained after the win. She fell behind 5‑3 while serving for the match, but rallied to break back and close out the contest.
Other early‑round action
On the men’s side, No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli quickly dropped the first two sets to Francisco Comesana on the only other court in action, Louis Armstrong Stadium. Several top women’s seeds – No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 12 Belinda Bencic and No. 32 Maria Sakkari – were forced to wait for dry conditions before they could begin their first‑round matches.
Rybakina, who holds multiple paths to the No. 1 ranking at this tournament, was slated to face American teen Thea Frodin, a 17‑year‑old who previously served as a body double for actress Demi Singleton in the 2021 film “King Richard.”
Upcoming marquee matchups
Fans can look forward to night sessions on the third and final day of the first round, featuring 2023 champion Coco Gauff, rising star Alex Eala (seeded 17), and men’s No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev.
Keys’ recent résumé
Keys was the runner‑up at the 2017 U.S. Open, losing to Sloane Stephens. She returned to Flushing Meadows last year after capturing her first major title at the Australian Open, where she defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. While her 2025 season ended abruptly with a loss to Renata Zarazua of Mexico after 89 unforced errors, this year’s opening win signals a promising start.
With the weather still uncertain, tournament officials will continue to prioritize matches on the roofed stadiums while hoping for a break in the rain that will allow the outer courts to resume play later this week.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
