A Dominant Win That Left One Legend Unconvinced
Elena Rybakina opened her US Open campaign in New York with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old American wildcard Thea Frodin on Tuesday. The scoreline looked comfortable, but former world No. 1 Andy Roddick is not fully convinced the second seed is in peak physical shape. Speaking on his podcast "Served," Roddick pointed to subtle movement patterns during the match that suggested Rybakina is managing her ongoing Achilles tendon injury, the same one that forced her to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open just weeks earlier.
Roddick described moments where Rybakina would redirect balls into the corners but then move toward them without urgency, as if deliberately avoiding explosive sprints. Despite those movement concerns, he was quick to praise her ball-striking, calling her serving and returning "unbelievable" and noting that she kept play central and looked for winners rather than grinding from the baseline. For Roddick, Rybakina appeared to be working within a clear tactical framework built around her limitations.
The Number One Ranking Is Pulling Her Through
Roddick was candid about why he believes Rybakina is competing at all. The Australian Open champion can claim the world No. 1 ranking if she reaches the semifinals at Flushing Meadows, and Roddick argued she almost certainly would not have made the trip to New York otherwise. He noted that reaching No. 1 is something a player carries forever, making the risk worth taking.
Frodin herself is no stranger to the spotlight. She was just 12 years old when she was cast as Serena Williams's body double in the 2021 film "King Richard." The ranking picture behind Rybakina remains tight, with Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff all capable of claiming the top spot depending on results. TennisDraw users tracking the women's draw will want to factor Rybakina's fitness closely into their bracket predictions heading into the later rounds.
