Madison Keys Takes Opening Set Against Alina Korneeva
The American won a 50-minute first set 7-5 on Arthur Ashe Stadium as rain kept the outside courts at the US Open empty.
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First Round on Arthur Ashe
Madison Keys took the opening set 7-5 against Alina Korneeva in the first round of the US Open, the tennis Grand Slam played in New York, on day three of the tournament.
The BBC reported that the set lasted around 50 minutes. Korneeva made a run of errors to hand Keys two set points, but the American missed both, putting a forehand into the tramlines and then sending a backhand long.
A backhand pass brought up a third set point, and Keys converted it when Korneeva went long. The Guardian noted the New York crowd was firmly behind the home player.
The Players
Korneeva, a 19-year-old Russian, is making her main-draw debut in New York. The BBC said she has previously reached the second round at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and described her as the happier of the two players early in the second set, pumping herself up between points.
PrizePicks, a betting site, reported the match was the first career meeting between the two and was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN. It listed 2026 records of 33-14 for Keys and 37-14 for Korneeva.
According to the same preview, Keys has reached the round of 16 at the other three majors this year and won a WTA 250 title in Eastbourne, but has drifted outside the top 20. Korneeva began 2026 ranked outside the top 200 and has climbed into the top 70, with wins over Ann Li, Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic.
Rain and the Rest of the Day
Play on the outside courts was delayed by rain, with nothing scheduled before 18:30 BST at the earliest. Only Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, which have roofs, were in use.
Waiting on the delayed schedule were Elena Rybakina against 17-year-old American wildcard Thea Frodin, and Britain's Arthur Fery against 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti. The Guardian reported that Rybakina, this year's Australian Open champion, will take the world number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka if she reaches the semi-finals.
Under the Ashe roof, fifth seed Flavio Cobolli fell two sets down to Argentina's Francisco Comesana, ranked 119 in the world, who sealed the second set with an ace. Both the BBC and the Guardian noted Cobolli has never won a match from two sets down.
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