Rodionov advances confidently to second qualifying round of the US Open

Next opponent from Portugal

In the second qualifying round, Rodionov will face an unseeded Portuguese player in Frederico Ferreira Silva. Ferreira Silva, currently ranked 188th in the world, also qualified for the second round without dropping a set and is considered an awkward but beatable opponent on hard court. The match is scheduled for Tuesday.

The US Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, begins next Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. To qualify directly, players had to be ranked among the top 104 in the world — everyone else has to go through the three-stage qualifying, in which a total of 128 main-draw spots are awarded.

Format and significance of qualifying

The qualifying field consists of 128 players, divided into 64 women and 64 men. With each round, the tension rises, as a single loss means elimination. Rodionov delivered a focused performance in his opening match against Coppejans, serving strongly and taking his chances consistently.

Sinja Kraus is also in the tournament as another Austrian player aiming to make the jump into the main draw. Competition on the women's side is traditionally particularly tough, especially since Lilli Tagger has already advanced a round and faces a difficult opponent.

The weather forecast for the coming days in New York is mixed. Rainfall could throw the schedule into disarray, meaning players must be ready to adapt quickly and show mental strength. Rodionov recently emphasized that, in his current form, he can hold his own against anyone.

Situation in the Austrian team

For the Lower Austrian, reaching the main draw of the US Open would be an important career step. After several injury breaks in the past, he has been working consistently on his fitness and his serve in recent weeks, which is reflected in his recent form.

A total of 16 direct main-draw spots are up for grabs in qualifying, split evenly between eight each on the women's and men's sides. The second and third qualifying rounds are played on a single day, which adds to the physical and mental strain.

The Austrian camp is looking to Tuesday with confidence. Alongside Rodionov, Misolic, Schwärzler, and Neumayer could also reach the third round among the home men. On the women's side, hopes rest on Tagger and Kraus, both of whom have already gained experience on the WTA Tour.

The final qualifying round, the so-called "Qualifying Finale," takes place on Thursday. Whoever wins there is officially part of the main draw of the 2026 US Open and will face a seeded player from the world's top 32 in round one.