Oliynikova reaches the US Open second round for the first time in her career and faces a top-20 opponent

Ukrainian tennis player Alexandra Oliynikova made a confident start in the main draw of the 2026 US Open. In the first round of the Grand Slam tournament, she defeated American Rizz Brantmeier, ranked 431st in the world, in two sets. The match ended 6:4, 6:4 in favor of the Ukrainian representative, and it took her just 1 hour and 39 minutes to claim the win. For both players, this meeting was their first head-to-head at the professional level, and Oliynikova played in her attacking style without dropping a single set. More on the Ukrainian's start in New York — in the Sport RBC.UA article.

First major win of her career

This success marked Oliynikova's first win in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament in her entire career. Her previous performances at the majors had not yielded such results, and it was in New York that the Ukrainian finally managed to advance past the opening round for the first time. Her tight, uncompromising play in two sets against an opponent ranked 431st demonstrated that Oliynikova is in good form and capable of competing at the highest level. The victory over Brantmeier was not just a formality, but a statement of intent for the entire tournament.

The road to New York: from qualifying to the main draw

It is worth noting that the 2026 US Open was only Oliynikova's second appearance in New York, but it was her first time reaching the second round (Round of 32) at this tournament. Last season, Alexandra was eliminated at the very start of the qualifying round and never made it to the main draw. Thus, in just one year, the Ukrainian went from a qualifying failure to a first-round major victory, which speaks to significant progress in her game and growing confidence in her own abilities.

A top-20 opponent: a possible rematch with Eala

In the second round of the US Open, Oliynikova faces a serious test — her opponent will be world No. 18 Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Notably, this season the Ukrainian has already met the Filipino representative: at the clay-court tournament in Strasbourg, Oliynikova defeated her. This could be a psychological advantage heading into the rematch, although on the hard courts of New York the balance of power may look different. The match against a top-20 player will be Oliynikova's main test of strength in her first major where she has reached the second round.

The Ukrainian wave at the 2026 US Open

Thanks to this victory, Oliynikova became the fourth representative of Ukraine to reach the Round of 32 at the 2026 US Open. Earlier, Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, and Yulia Starodubtseva had already successfully advanced to the second round of the prestigious tournament. Thus, the Ukrainian tennis team is showing a strong presence in the main draw on American hard courts, which is a significant indicator for the national team. All four Ukrainians now continue their fight to reach the Round of 16, and their upcoming matches will be crucial for domestic tennis this season.