Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse have quietly pulled out of the 2026 US Open women’s doubles draw, leaving a major question mark over their decision after they’d already secured a first-round victory. This unexpected withdrawal has shifted the landscape of the tournament, especially with the reason for their exit still completely unclear.
What Happened To The Doubles Dream?
Kostyuk and Ruse had already notched a solid first-round win on Thursday, September 3, a strong start to their tournament run. They were set to face Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider on Monday, September 7, a match that’s obviously not happening now. What makes this even more of a head-scratcher is that Kostyuk is still absolutely alive in singles! She’s got a huge Round of 16 match coming up at approximately 12:30 PM EDT on Sunday, September 6, against none other than Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Ruse, on the other hand, was defeated in her first-round singles match back on Sunday, August 30, by Jessica Pegula. The lack of any explanation for their doubles withdrawal is just wild, don’t you think?
Townsend Carries The Torch Alone
With Kostyuk’s sudden exit from the doubles bracket, Taylor Townsend is now the *only* player left at this year’s US Open who is still competing in both singles and doubles tennis. Talk about stepping into the spotlight! Getting into the second week in just one discipline is impressive enough, but doing it in two is seriously top-notch. Townsend, a left-handed American, has been playing at an inspired level this year in New York, whether she’s on her own in singles or tearing it up with doubles partner Katerina Siniakova. She’s got a massive challenge ahead, facing defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in singles on Sunday. The women’s game is incredibly competitive, with a deep level of talent. While Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are often seen as the favorites, you absolutely cannot overlook Grand Slam champions like Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Noskova, Mirra Andreeva, and Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng.
You can catch all the action live daily on ESPN through September 13. Don’t miss Townsend’s epic battle against Sabalenka on Sunday, or Kostyuk trying to keep her singles run alive against Noskova. This tournament is just getting started, and every match is going to be must-see tennis!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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