Rybakina vs. Bouzas Maneiro: US Open Second-Round Preview, How to Watch, Odds

bet365 News Team Updated: 14 hours ago

Elena Rybakina continues her quest for the world No. 1 ranking as she faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second-round of the 2026 US Open.

Location	Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York
Date	Thursday, September 3
Start Time	8:40 PM ET
TV Channel	ESPN

Elena Rybakina is back on court for the second round of the US Open. The Kazakh star, currently ranked world No. 2, has her sights set on overtaking Aryna Sabalenka for the top spot. Her next opponent is Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, a Spanish player ranked just outside the top 100 at No. 105.

Awaiting the victor in the round of 32 will be the winner of the match between Greece's Maria Sakkari, the 32nd seed, and Ukraine's Yulija Starodubtseva.

Rybakina's Pursuit of the Top Spot

Rybakina's long-held ambition to surpass the "Minsk Tiger" has been repeatedly delayed. At the Cincinnati Open, for instance, physical issues forced her to retire during her quarter-final match against Iga Swiatek. Now, the Kazakh player appears to be back in top form, with the US Open title and the world No. 1 ranking as her primary goals for this phase of the season.

Her campaign at Flushing Meadows began with a convincing debut victory over American Thea Frodin, whom she dispatched in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Bouzas Maneiro Secured First-Round Win Over Vidmanova

Facing the world No. 2 is a Spanish opponent known for her tenacity on hard courts. In recent matches against top-tier players like Elina Svitolina in Toronto and Katerina Siniakova in Cincinnati, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro may have lost, but she pushed both contests to a decisive third set.

A string of poor results in recent weeks has seen her ranking drop from a high of 48th in June to her current position of 105th. However, her New York journey started on a positive note with a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over Czech player Darja Vidmanova.

Head-to-Head: A Single Previous Encounter

The two players have met once before, also on a hard court, at the 2025 United Cup. On that occasion, Rybakina emerged victorious, defeating Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, 6-3.

Winner to Face Sakkari or Starodubsteva

The winner of the Rybakina-Bouzas match will face either Maria Sakkari of Greece, the 32nd seed and world No. 35, or Yulija Starodubtseva of Ukraine, ranked 58th. This next potential matchup appears balanced on paper, pitting the Greek player's power against her opponent's elegant technique and strong baseline game.

In the first round, Sakkari battled back to defeat American Robin Montgomery 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. Starodubtseva, meanwhile, enjoyed a more straightforward win, beating Germany's Ella Seidel 6-2, 6-2. The New York clash will be the first-ever meeting between the Greek and Ukrainian players.

About the US Open Venue

The US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, located in Flushing Meadows Park in the Queens borough of New York City. The 46.5-acre complex features 22 courts, with the main court being Arthur Ashe Stadium. With a capacity of 23,771, it is the largest tennis-specific stadium in the world.

Since 2020, the courts have featured a Laykold surface, which replaced DecoTurf. This surface is known for its lower friction and a lower ball bounce compared to other hard courts. In addition to the tournament courts, the facility includes 16 other courts (12 indoor and 4 clay) for public use. The entire complex was dedicated in 2006 to tennis legend Billie Jean King, who won 16 titles at the tournament across various categories starting in 1964.