Rakhimova Upsets Krejcikova at US Open

Kamilla Rakhimova upset Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (4), 6-2 in the first round of the 2026 US Open on Sunday, Aug. 30. The WTA called it the first big upset of the tournament. ESPN logged the same score in its Ashe day report. Tennis.com lists the match on Stadium 17, completed in straight sets. Rakhimova converted her seventh match point to close a marathon final game, the WTA wrote, in 1 hour and 53 minutes.

Krejcikova, the No. 27 seed and a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, walked in as the favorite. Rakhimova entered ranked No. 92, well off her career-best No. 60, per the WTA. It was her first win over Krejcikova in two tour meetings, and her second trip to the US Open second round. She next plays the winner of Aoi Ito vs Oksana Selekhmeteva.

How did Rakhimova upset Krejcikova?

First-set tiebreak, then a second-set runaway. The WTA said Rakhimova won 72 percent of first-serve points to Krejcikova's 61, even though Krejcikova held a higher first-serve percentage (54 to 49). Rakhimova won the final five games. Tennis.com had her converting four of five break points and holding eight of 10 service games. That is the search box: Rakhimova Krejcikova score, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Emotion was the other story. Rakhimova told the WTA on court that she had watched Krejcikova save eight match points against Taylor Townsend in a prior match and tried not to think about it while closing. "I'm glad that I managed my emotions and closed the match in my favor," she said. Seven match points to get over the line is a long finish for a first round.

What does the upset mean at Flushing?

Three straight Grand Slam second rounds for Rakhimova after opening wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the WTA noted. It is also her third major win over a seeded opponent (Alexandrova at the 2021 US Open, Paolini at Wimbledon 2025). Five years ago she beat Krejcikova's side of the draw story the other way: she lost to Krejcikova after upsetting Alexandrova. "Time has passed. I grew up as a player," she told the WTA.

Sunday's women's board already had Jessica Pegula beating Elena-Gabriela Ruse on Ashe and Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin in the night session. Rakhimova is the seeded-player scalp. Stadium 17, not Ashe, but the score is the one seed hunters will search.

Rakhimova vs Krejcikova FAQ

What was the Rakhimova vs Krejcikova score? Kamilla Rakhimova won 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Stadium 17, per the WTA, ESPN, and Tennis.com, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.

Was Krejcikova seeded? Yes. No. 27 seed and a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, the WTA wrote.

Who does Rakhimova play next? The winner of Aoi Ito vs Oksana Selekhmeteva, per the WTA.