Andreescu returns, Zheng impresses and Lee makes history: The 5 biggest stories from the US Open qualifying first round so far
WTAWednesday, 26 August 2026 at 02:30
While much of the attention has been on the US Open mixed doubles tournament, with stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexandra Eala and Alexander Zverev taking the court, qualifying is also underway at Flushing Meadows, with players battling for a place in the singles main draw.
The stories are already beginning to emerge during Fan Week, with several players making headlines in qualifying. Former champion Bianca Andreescu produced an impressive victory in her return to competition, while Zheng Qinwen played Grand Slam qualifying for the first time in several years and made a strong statement in her opening match.
On the men's side, there have been several compelling stories as well. They may not involve Grand Slam champions or Olympic gold medalists, but they are no less significant. Young Jordan Lee became the youngest player to win a Grand Slam-level match, becoming the first tennis player born in 2010 to win a match at a Grand Slam, whether in qualifying or the main draw.
There have also been several long-awaited returns to winning ways. Young Czech Linda Fruhvirtova produced a major upset by eliminating top seed Polina Kudermetova early in the draw, while former world No. 17 Cristian Garin finally returned to victory after months away from competition due to injury, winning an epic clash that was decided by a third-set tiebreak.
1. The redemption Tour keeps rolling: Andreescu breezes through Round One
Bianca Andreescu def. Eva Vedder 6-1, 6-2
Bianca Andreescu needed just over an hour to dispatch Eva Vedder in front of a sizeable, vocal crowd at Flushing Meadows — a reminder that the player who won this exact tournament as a teenager in 2019 is still capable of putting together complete performances when her body cooperates. She broke serve four times, fired five aces, and never faced a break point of her own across the entire match.
The scoreline belies just how far Andreescu has fallen and how hard she's had to work to climb back: now ranked outside the top 180, this is her first US Open qualifying campaign since 2018. She'll need two more wins to reach the main draw, something she also managed at Wimbledon in June — proof that her recent qualifying breakthrough wasn't a one-off. Next up is No. 24 seed Veronika Podrez.
2. Back from under the knife: Zheng Qinwen reintroduces herself to Grand Slam tennis
Zheng Qinwen def. You Xiaodi 6-3, 6-2
It's been nearly five years since Zheng last had to play her way into a Grand Slam through qualifying, and a lot has changed since then: an Olympic gold medal, a Australian Open final, a career-high of world No. 4 — and, more recently, an elbow surgery that all but wiped out a year of her career. She returned to the tour in February after being sidelined since last July, having managed just two matches in the interim.
Facing a compatriot in the first round, Zheng needed only 88 minutes to get the job done, closing out the section of the draw with the same aggressive ball-striking that once made her a Slam finalist.
At No. 121 in the world and the No. 14 seed in this qualifying draw, she's a heavy favorite to make it back to a Grand Slam main draw — but for a player who once beat Sabalenka and reached a major final, simply qualifying is itself a measure of how much ground she has to make up.
3. The 16-year-old making history before he can legally drive
Jordan Lee def. Mark Lajal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Fresh off winning the Wimbledon boys' singles title last month, Jordan Lee arrived at Flushing Meadows on a wild card and promptly rallied from a set down to beat world No. 152 Mark Lajal — a professional more than twice his age. The 16-year-old from Orlando, born in 2010, became the first player from his birth year to win a match at Grand Slam level, whether in qualifying or the main draw.
What makes the run especially eye-catching is the contrast with how these things usually go: most 16-year-olds are still grinding through ITF Futures events, not trading blows with top-160 pros three rounds from a major main draw. Lee, coached by his mother Tina at the USTA's national campus in Orlando, next faces Daniel Rincon — himself a former US Open boys' champion — for a place in the final qualifying round.
16-year-old Wimbledon boys’ champion Jordan Lee progresses into the second round of qualifying! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Jd79DlxOIo
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2026
4. Top seed falls: Fruhvirtova ends Kudermetova's run before it starts
Linda Fruhvirtova def. Polina Kudermetova 6-1, 6-3
Linda Fruhvirtova arrived in New York having lost nine of her last ten matches, a slump that made her first-round pairing against the top seed look like a mismatch on paper — in the wrong direction. Instead, the Czech, a former world No. 49, dismantled Kudermetova in just 67 minutes, breaking her serve five times as the Russian-turned-Uzbekistani player was undone by 40 unforced errors and never found any rhythm on serve.
It's the kind of result that captures exactly what makes Grand Slam qualifying compelling: seedings mean little when a player in crisis runs into one who simply refuses to lose that particular day. Fruhvirtova, who reached the second round here in 2022, next faces Carson Branstine, herself returning from a long injury layoff, for a place in the final qualifying round.
5. Three months on the sidelines, three sets and a deciding tiebreak: Garin's long-awaited return
Cristian Garin def. Spencer Johnson 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(9)
Sidelined since Roland Garros by a hip injury that forced him to skip Wimbledon and had no clear return date as recently as June, Cristian Garin marked his comeback with a three-hour, 17-minute battle against wildcard Spencer Johnson — an American ranked outside the top 400 who fed off vocal home support and pushed the match to a third-set breaker.
Read also
Garin, working with new coach Guillermo Gómez, twice had to come from behind in the decider before closing it out 11-9 in the tiebreak. The result matters well beyond a single qualifying win.
At 30 and looking to rebuild after injuries derailed a career that once reached world No. 17, Garin needed exactly this kind of grinding, high-pressure win to prove his body — and his competitive instincts — are still intact. The world No. 135 hadn't won since early May against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, having suffered four consecutive defeats – including Challenger tournaments – before his return, this time in hardcourts.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- …and Foseca ;)DaveyWavey25-08-2026
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- Well said, Andy. I got sick of Nick carrying on and on and on about Sinner. He absolutely refused to look at the facts. Now look at him. Karma is real!!!Rapunzel23-08-2026
- The fact that ANDY RODDICK of all people has become the voice of “reason” is interesting. He’s absolutely correct about Kyrgios too. He’s become a tennis influencer who is a total hypocrite and bully! I agree with RODDICK 100%DaveyWavey23-08-2026
- Great article! Thiem was similar to Del Potro in that both men had won Grand Slams and injured wrists each stole their careers away. Sad really.DaveyWavey22-08-2026
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- Love Halep’s post! Very pointed yet simple.DaveyWavey20-08-2026
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- Help me understand this. Nick tests positive for cocaine and gets suspended but Marketa gets banned for four years?Rapunzel19-08-2026
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