American prodigy highlights Day 3 U.S. Open women's draw

Iva Jovic of the United States. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

American prodigy highlights Day 3 U.S. Open women's draw

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Aug 31, 2026 10:53 PM ET

Fourteenth-seeded American Iva Jovic against Magdalena Frech of Poland highlights the matches to watch on Tuesday as the first round concludes at the U.S. Open. Frech and Jovic are the third scheduled match on the Grandstand on Thursday. That will be impacted by rain-delayed matches on Monday.

Frech and Jovic are playing for the first time on Tuesday. According to her WTA profile page, Jovic has 31 wins and 16 losses in 2026. Jovic has nine wins and three losses in 2026 Grand Slams, with her defeats to Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula.

Per the WTA, Frech has 17 wins and 21 losses in 2026. Frech has two wins and three losses in 2026 Grand Slams. After only one U.S. Open win entering last year's tournament, Frech advanced to the third round. Jovic lost in the second round in her only U.S. Open appearances in 2024 and 2025.

Twelfth-seeded Belinda Bencic against three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Yulia Putintseva is one of the intriguing matches to watch on Tuesday. Bencic and Putinseva have split six matches. Bencic beat Putinseva in their first match in 2011.

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Bencic has 26 wins and 10 losses in 2026, with seven victories and three defeats in Grand Slams. After being eliminated in the second round in Australia, Bencic advanced to the fourth round at the French Open and Wimbledon. Putinseva has 23 wins and 20 losses in 2026, with four victories and three defeats in Grand Slams.

Trying to regain past successes

Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina will try to regain past success at the U.S. Open in the final of three matches to watch on Tuesday. Badosa and Kasatkina have struggled with injuries and form in recent years. Both players have three Grand Slam quarterfinal runs and one semifinal run during their careers.

Kasatkina has won four and lost three against Badosa. Tuesday is the third time Badosa and Kasatkina are playing in a Grand Slam. Badosa beat Kasatkina in three sets at Wimbledon in 2024 and in straight sets at the 2025 French Open. The winner on Tuesday will receive a boost in WTA points.

Badosa has won 22 and lost 17 matches in 2026, with two wins and one loss in Grand Slams. Kasatkina has 20 victories and 17 defeats, with four wins and three losses in Grand Slams in 2026. Badosa and Kasatkina are the second match on court 17, after Bencic and Putinseva conclude.

Alan Rubenstein

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