Elena Rybakina faces 18-year-old Czech rising star Tereza Valentova this afternoon in the second round of the 2025 U.S. Open at Stadium 17 in Flushing, Queens.
Rybakina has stepped on the accelerator in time for the North American hard-court season, reaching the semifinals in Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati.
She has never passed the third round at Flushing Meadows, but is poised for a deep run this year. Her high-powered serve and flat groundstrokes make her a consistent threat on hard courts.
Valentova, ranked No. 96, is the youngest competitor remaining. A 2024 French Open junior champion, she claimed two WTA 125 titles in 2025 on both clay and hard courts, earning a breakthrough into the top 100.
Her 39–9 win–loss record this year reflects her rapid rise. Though a win today is unlikely, expect to hear her name more often in the future.
Rybakina vs. Valentova Head-to-Head
This will be the first professional meeting between Rybakina and Valentova.
Prediction
Rybakina in straight sets. Valentova’s ascent is clear, but Rybakina is too formidable an opponent for her to overcome, at least yet.
How to Watch Elena Rybakina vs. Tereza Valentova
This afternoon’s match between Elena Rybakina and Tereza Valentova is currently expected to start at around 3:00 PM Eastern at Stadium 17, after Collignon-Ruud.
Some of the match may air live on ESPN as part of its whip-around coverage.
Dedicated match feeds are available to ESPN+ subscribers. A standalone ESPN+ subscription starts at $11.99/month.
Rybakina vs. Valentova
Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Expected Start Time: 3:00 PM Eastern
Court: Stadium 17 (after Collignon-Ruud)
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app and website, ESPN+ (dedicated match feed)
