Starodubtseva Reaches US Open 2026 Round of 16: Ukrainian Gives World No. 2 Rybakina a Tough Fight

Yuliia Starodubtseva, ranked sixth in Ukraine and 58th in the world, has concluded her campaign at the 2026 US Open. In the third round, she put up a worthy fight against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the world No. 2, losing in two sets — 6:7, 3:6. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the match result.

Path to a Personal Best at the American Major

For Starodubtseva, this match marked her first-ever entry into the Round of 16 at the US Open. Previously at the American "major," the Ukrainian tennis player had not advanced beyond the first round, so the current result is officially recorded as her personal best at the tournament. Moreover, reaching the third round replicates her best achievement at Grand Slam events, which she had previously reached at Roland Garros in 2025 and 2026.

First Set: Break at 4:4 and a Missed Set Point

The Ukrainian started the set confidently, held her own serve for a long time, and at 4:4 took advantage of a dip in her opponent's game to complete a break. However, Starodubtseva failed to serve out the set — Rybakina returned the break on her fourth attempt. The fate of the set was decided in a tiebreak: Starodubtseva reached set point first (6:5), but the Kazakh won three consecutive points and closed the set 8:6.

Second Set: Pressure from the World No. 2

The second set began with sustained pressure from Rybakina, who quickly made two breaks and took a 4:1 lead. Starodubtseva managed to narrow the gap to a minimum by winning back one of her opponent's serves, but she could not level the score. In the ninth game, the world No. 2 converted her first match point to end the match — 6:3.

Ukraine's Overall Performance at US Open 2026

Despite the defeat, Starodubtseva finishes the tournament with a personal best at the American major. In the singles draw of the US Open, Marta Kostyuk remains the sole representative of Ukraine; she will play in the quarterfinals on September 6 against Czech player Linda Noskova. On the eve of the US Open 2026, Ukraine's top-ranked player — Elina Svitolina — also concluded her campaign.