Ukraine’s US Open campaign continues to feature a strong women’s lineup despite a first-round exit for Yulia Starodubtseva.
Yulia Starodubtseva saw her hopes of a deep run at the US Open dashed as she was defeated by Anna Blinkova in straight sets, 3-6, 1-6, in the main draw. The match lasted 1 hour and 29 minutes. In the opener, Blinkova broke early and built a 5-2 advantage before Starodubtseva fought back to claim a break of serve, but it wasn’t enough as Blinkova clinched the set 6-3. In the second, Blinkova continued to press, racing to win the first three games. Starodubtseva did manage to hold serve once, yet Blinkova closed out the set and the match 6-1. The Ukrainian committed 29 unforced errors to Blinkova’s 20.
This marked Starodubtseva’s second appearance in the US Open main draw. She first reached the event in 2024 through qualifying, and this year her spot in the main draw was determined by her year-end ranking rather than qualification.
Outlook for Ukraine at the tournament
Despite Starodubtseva’s exit, three Ukrainians remain in the singles competition: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, and Dayana Yastremska. Yastremska’s upcoming match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was on the schedule for Monday, August 25. The continued presence of multiple Ukrainian players underscores the depth of the country’s women’s tennis as the tournament progresses.
What this means going forward
Ukraine’s continued representation at the US Open is a positive sign for the sport back home, signaling a pipeline of talent across the top tier of players. While Starodubtseva bowed out, fans can still look forward to potential breakthroughs from Svitolina, Kostyuk, and Yastremska in the coming rounds. The event remains a platform for Ukrainian players to test themselves against some of the world’s best, and supporters will be hoping for more standout performances as the draw unfolds.
Summary
– Yulia Starodubtseva was eliminated in the US Open main draw by Anna Blinkova in straight sets (3-6, 1-6).
– The match highlighted Blinkova’s steadier level and Starodubtseva’s competitive fight, though the Ukrainian could not convert key opportunities.
– Ukraine still has three players left in the singles draw: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, and Dayana Yastremska, with Yastremska set to face Pavlyuchenkova on August 25.
– The ongoing success of Ukrainian players at the Open reflects a healthy depth in the country’s women’s tennis and offers hopeful momentum for the rest of the tournament.