Sabalenka, Swiatek and Osaka Advance as Bejlek Falls | US Open 2026 Day 2 Roundup

US Open 2026 Roundup – Day 2

Aryna Sabalenka began her pursuit of a third consecutive US Open title with a straight-sets victory on Monday, while Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova joined her in the second round.

Sabalenka defeated Camila Osorio 6–2, 6–4, extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 15 matches. Swiatek produced an equally controlled performance against Wang Xiyu, while Osaka needed two tiebreaks to escape a determined challenge from Anastasia Zakharova.

The leading seeds largely survived, but Cincinnati semifinalist Sara Bejlek was unable to carry her breakthrough form into New York. Cristina Bucsa eliminated the No. 28 seed 7–5, 4–6, 6–1.

Emma Navarro also completed her rain-suspended opening match, outlasting Loïs Boisson in three sets.

Sabalenka Begins Three-Peat Campaign

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign by defeating Osorio 6–2, 6–4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The No. 1 seed was not entirely comfortable. She committed 23 unforced errors and occasionally showed the frustration that has accompanied several recent defeats from winning positions.

Her power nevertheless created the decisive separation.

Sabalenka struck 32 winners and capitalised on Osorio’s difficult serving start. The Colombian committed five double faults during her first two service games, allowing Sabalenka to take control despite an early exchange of breaks.

Osorio became more competitive in the second set. Her variety disrupted Sabalenka’s rhythm, and she earned two break points that would have given her a 4–2 lead.

Sabalenka saved both, then made her move at 4–4. Osorio’s ninth double fault contributed to the decisive break before the defending champion served out the match.

The victory extended Sabalenka’s streak to 24 consecutive Grand Slam first-round wins and 15 straight victories at the US Open.

She will face qualifier Polina Iatcenko in the second round. Iatcenko needed three hours and 27 minutes to eliminate Renata Zarazua during the rain-interrupted opening day.

Sabalenka remains under considerable rankings pressure. She must defend the title to have any chance of retaining the points she won in 2025, while Elena Rybakina controls the race for world No. 1 from the opposite half of the draw.

For now, the champion has avoided the kind of early complication that could have turned that pressure into an immediate crisis. Official WTA report

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Swiatek Delivers Another Efficient Opening Victory

Iga Swiatek defeated Wang Xiyu 6–2, 6–3 in one hour and 28 minutes.

The No. 8 seed did not face a break point and won 80% of the points behind her first serve. Wang attempted to challenge her by taking the ball early, but Swiatek absorbed the pace and consistently forced one additional shot.

Swiatek converted three break points during the opening set. The second remained level through seven games before a precisely placed forehand allowed her to break for 5–3.

She then served out the match without further difficulty.

The victory extended Swiatek’s remarkable record in Grand Slam opening rounds to 30–1, with her only first-round major defeat coming at Wimbledon in 2019.

Swiatek entered New York with renewed momentum after winning Toronto and reaching the Cincinnati semifinals. Although her No. 8 seeding gives her a more dangerous route than usual, her recent form remains stronger than the number beside her name might suggest.

She will next face Nadia Podoroska, who defeated Simona Waltert in straight sets. WTA match report

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Osaka Survives Two Tiebreaks

Naomi Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7–6(6), 7–6(3) in the final women’s match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The scoreline reflects how close Osaka came to being drawn into a third set.

She established an advantage in both sets but could not immediately protect it. Zakharova broke back when Osaka served for the opening set and recovered again after falling behind in the second.

Osaka ultimately played the more composed tennis in both tiebreaks.

The two-time US Open champion also relied on one of the most powerful serves in the women’s field, producing deliveries measured as high as 122 mph. That weapon helped her escape the tighter moments of a match lasting more than two hours.

It was not the effortless opening victory Osaka might have wanted, but her ability to win two closely contested sets offered a different kind of encouragement. Major tournaments are rarely won without surviving at least one match in which the opponent refuses to follow the expected script.

Osaka will next meet Kim Birrell, who recovered to defeat Maya Joint.

Her section remains one of the tournament’s most demanding, with Rybakina, Swiatek and Madison Keys all positioned in the same quarter. Reuters Day 2 report

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Anisimova Celebrates Birthday With 25 Winners

Amanda Anisimova marked her 25th birthday by defeating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6–1, 6–3.

Last year’s finalist immediately re-established herself as one of the leading threats in the upper half of the draw.

Anisimova struck 25 winners—appropriately matching her age—and saved 10 of the 11 break points she faced. She won five consecutive games during the first set and maintained control whenever Krueger threatened to make the second more competitive.

The No. 10 seed completed the victory in one hour and 12 minutes.

Anisimova’s previous US Open campaign ended with a straight-sets defeat to Sabalenka in the final. The draw has placed both players in the same quarter again, creating the possibility of an earlier rematch.

She will face 18-year-old Austrian Lilli Tagger in the second round. Tagger defeated wild card Leolia Jeanjean in three sets.

Anisimova’s opening performance cannot settle whether she is ready to repeat last year’s run, but it showed no visible hesitation in returning to the tournament where she experienced one of her most difficult defeats. Reuters match report

Bejlek Falls After Cincinnati Breakthrough

Sara Bejlek became Day 2’s most notable women’s seed to exit, losing to Cristina Bucsa 7–5, 4–6, 6–1.

Bejlek arrived as one of the tournament’s emerging dark horses after reaching the Cincinnati semifinals. Her run included victories over Sabalenka, Madison Keys, Barbora Krejcikova and Karolina Pliskova.

That success carried her into the Top 30 and earned her the No. 28 seed in New York.

Bucsa prevented the momentum from continuing.

The Spaniard edged a competitive opening set before Bejlek responded in the second. One of the Czech player’s best points demonstrated the speed and defensive ability that attracted attention in Cincinnati, but the match changed decisively in the final set.

Bucsa conceded only one game in the decider and completed the upset after two hours and seven minutes.

The result is a reminder that a breakthrough tournament does not automatically establish a new competitive baseline. Bejlek’s Cincinnati performance remains significant, but reproducing it immediately at a Grand Slam presented a different physical and psychological test.

Her early exit also demonstrates the danger of rapidly rising expectations. Bejlek entered Cincinnati as an outsider with little pressure; she arrived in New York as a seeded player whom opponents had begun to study more closely. Official WTA result

Noskova Recovers From 5–2 Down

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova recovered from a difficult start to defeat Katie Volynets 7–5, 6–1.

Volynets led 5–2 in the opening set and appeared positioned to place the No. 6 seed under serious pressure. Noskova then won five consecutive games to steal the set.

The turnaround continued into the second, where Noskova extended her run to 10 straight games before Volynets briefly interrupted it.

Noskova’s performance contained both warning signs and evidence of her growing resilience. She struck nine aces but also committed 10 double faults, reflecting the instability of her opening exchanges.

Once she found her range, however, the match became increasingly one-sided.

Noskova will face Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee in the second round. Tararudee needed three sets to defeat qualifier Elvina Kalieva.

Muchova Cruises After Mixed-Doubles Success

Karolina Muchova defeated Sinja Kraus 6–3, 6–0, completing one of Day 2’s most convincing victories.

Muchova entered the singles tournament having already won a US Open title this year. She and Jakub Mensik captured the mixed-doubles championship during Fan Week.

Rather than appearing physically or emotionally drained, Muchova controlled her singles opener from the beginning. Once she took the first set, she did not concede another game.

The No. 7 seed will next face Britain’s Harriet Dart.

Muchova’s movement, variety and previous success in New York make her a credible threat in Jessica Pegula’s quarter. Her physical durability across the full fortnight may be a more important question than the quality of her tennis.

Navarro Completes Rain-Delayed Victory

Emma Navarro finally completed her opening match against Loïs Boisson, winning 7–6(6), 6–7(1), 6–3.

The match began on Sunday and was suspended with Navarro leading by a set and 4–2. What appeared close to becoming a routine straight-sets victory turned into a much longer test when play resumed.

Boisson recovered the second-set break and dominated the tiebreak to force a decider.

Navarro regained control in the third, completing the victory after more than a day of interruptions and momentum changes.

The No. 26 seed will next face Catherine McNally.

Boisson’s visible frustration after the match—including repeatedly striking her racket against the court—captured the emotional cost of allowing a suspended contest to escape after forcing it into a deciding set.

For Navarro, the match was less polished than her initial position suggested it should have been. Surviving it matters more than the route she took, but she will want to avoid allowing similar opportunities to stronger opponents. Official US Open report

Zheng Completes Qualifying-to-Main-Draw Comeback

Zheng Qinwen recovered from a set down to defeat 16-year-old qualifier Kristina Liutova 4–6, 6–3, 6–1.

Zheng entered the tournament through qualifying as she continued her return from injury and initially struggled against an opponent playing without visible fear.

Liutova took the opening set after 52 minutes, but Zheng stabilised her serve during the second and increasingly imposed her experience.

The deciding set produced the clearest separation. Zheng established a double break, moved ahead 4–0 and completed her fourth consecutive victory at this year’s tournament.

The win moves her closer to returning to the Top 100 and extends one of the most interesting comeback stories in the draw.

Other Seeded Players Advance

Several additional seeds secured their places in the second round:

• No. 15 Diana Shnaider defeated Daria Snigur, 6–0, 6–4
• No. 21 Anna Kalinskaya defeated Anna Bondar in straight sets
• No. 24 Anastasia Potapova advanced past Tereza Valentova
• Taylor Townsend eliminated No. 20 Maja Chwalinska
• Marie Bouzkova progressed from her opening match
• Cristina Bucsa defeated No. 28 Sara Bejlek, 7–5, 4–6, 6–1

Townsend’s result removed another seed, while Bucsa’s victory over Bejlek was the more surprising upset based on their immediate form entering New York.

Eala, Gauff, Rybakina and Keys Await Day 3

Alexandra Eala did not play on Day 2.

The No. 17 seed will begin her campaign against American qualifier Mary Stoiana on Tuesday. It will be Eala’s first US Open appearance as a seeded player, one year after she recorded her historic comeback victory over Clara Tauson.

Stoiana entered the main draw by winning three qualifying matches. Although Eala will be the favourite, the American’s familiarity with the conditions and match rhythm makes the assignment more substantial than their ranking positions suggest.

Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva and Madison Keys are also scheduled to begin their campaigns on Day 3.

Rybakina’s result will be particularly important to the world No. 1 race. Reaching the semifinals would guarantee that she overtakes Sabalenka regardless of the defending champion’s result.

What Day 2 Told Us

The leading champions survived, but not all of them followed the same route.

Sabalenka showed enough power to overcome moments of frustration. Swiatek offered the cleanest control, completing her match without facing a break point. Osaka endured two sets in which she could not hold an advantage but responded better in both tiebreaks.

Anisimova delivered the most dominant performance among the leading American women, while Noskova and Navarro proved capable of recovering when their opening matches moved against them.

Bejlek’s departure is the day’s clearest warning against assuming that recent form will transfer automatically to a Grand Slam.

After two days, the women’s draw has lost Krejcikova, Bejlek and Chwalinska from the seeded field. Most of the leading title contenders, however, remain intact.

Day 3 now places Eala, Rybakina, Gauff, Andreeva and Keys under the opening-round spotlight.

Sources: Official US Open scores, WTA scores and results, Reuters Day 2 roundup.

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