Bucsa outlasts Sakatsume in rare triple-tiebreak thriller at 2026 US Open

The women's singles second-round match at the 2026 US Open between Cristina Bucsa and Himeno Sakatsume has entered the list of rare Grand Slam matches. After 3 hours and 1 minute, Bucsa won 7-6(6), 6-7(0), 7-6[6]. It was only the sixth time in the Open Era that a Grand Slam match had all three sets decided by tiebreaks, and the fourth time at Flushing Meadows. That statistic was enough to explain why this match was discussed more than an ordinary second-round contest. Bucsa, the Spanish player ranked 40th in the world, did not arrive in this match with the best form. She had just beaten 28th seed Bejlek in the first round, a valuable win because Bejlek had reached the Cincinnati semifinals earlier. But looking back at the previous seven months, since her WTA title in Merida in February, Bucsa had not won two consecutive matches until this week. The victory over Sakatsume gave her the first two-match winning streak after a long difficult stretch. That suggests she is in a genuine revival phase, though consistency remains a major question. Sakatsume, a 25-year-old Japanese player ranked 144th, had to go through qualifying. She had just earned her first Grand Slam main-draw win over Kalinina before meeting Bucsa. For a qualifier, pushing a top-40 opponent into a match lasting more than three hours is a major achievement. Sakatsume not only showed endurance, she also displayed confidence at key moments. She saved match points in the third set and produced a spectacular down-the-line return winner, forcing the match into an extended tiebreak. The tactical details were notable. Bucsa won the first set in a tiebreak by 7-6(6). In the second set, she trailed 5-3 but won three consecutive games to lead 6-5, only two points from victory. At that moment, Sakatsume fought back strongly and won the tiebreak 7-0, forcing a deciding set. This was a worrying signal for Bucsa, because losing a set after having a chance to close it out showed mental fragility under pressure. The third set continued to be a tug of war. Sakatsume saved match points when facing defeat, but Bucsa ultimately held her nerve in the decisive tiebreak. Bucsa converted her third match point to win 7-6[6]. One key factor was her willingness to come to the net. She repeatedly attacked the front of the court and used net finishes to disrupt Sakatsume's baseline rhythm. This style worked in the most important moments, especially in the final tiebreak. Historical statistics made this match even more remarkable. In the Open Era, only six Grand Slam matches have featured three tiebreak sets, and four of those took place at the US Open. Since the US Open adopted the super-tiebreak rule in the final set in 2026, more rare scenarios have emerged. The deciding-set tiebreak is no longer first to seven but first to 10, increasing the chances of dramatic scorelines. The 2026 season has already produced three such matches: Jacquemot against Kostyuk at the Australian Open, Keys against Shnaider in Brisbane, and now Bucsa against Sakatsume at the US Open. The higher frequency of triple-tiebreak matches may reflect the homogenization of playing styles and the narrowing gap between top players and the rest. In terms of rankings, Bucsa faces pressure to defend her previous result. Last year she reached the fourth round at the US Open, worth 240 points. Reaching the third round this year means she is guaranteed at least 130 points. If she loses in the third round, she will lose 110 additional points compared with last year, which could drop her outside the top 40. But the immediate challenge is not points; it is physical recovery after more than three hours of intense play. Bucsa will face Coco Gauff, the fourth seed and former 2026 US Open champion, in the third round. Gauff has a powerful serve, strong forehand, and excellent passing shots against net rushers. Bucsa's aggressive net play could become a double-edged sword when facing such a skilled passer. Physical condition will also matter. A match lasting more than three hours in the second round, followed by a clash with a title contender, is no small challenge. Without proper recovery protocols, Bucsa could enter the match with heavy legs. Sakatsume may have lost, but she still leaves New York with positive signs. Her first Grand Slam main-draw win and a three-hour performance against a top-40 player showed she is playing above her ranking of 144. She will leave with about 130 points, moving closer to the top 120. At 25, Sakatsume is entering her prime. If she maintains this level, she can compete regularly in main draws. Her emergence also suggests Japanese women's tennis is producing promising new faces beyond Naomi Osaka's generation. The match between Bucsa and Sakatsume did more than produce a rare statistic. It showed the real competitive depth of women's tennis outside the top 10. The gap between the 28th seed and a qualifier is now very small. Matches like this demonstrate the growing depth of women's tennis. When a top-40 player has to give everything to beat a 144th-ranked opponent, the appeal of Grand Slams is not limited to the biggest stars. All attention will now turn to Bucsa's clash with Gauff. Can Bucsa sustain her net-rushing style after such a long match? Can she use her experience from last year's US Open fourth-round run to cause an upset? The answer will come soon, but one thing is certain: Bucsa is no longer an easy player to beat in the early rounds of a Grand Slam. Her second-round performance was a strong statement that aggressive net play, though rare in the baseline-dominated era, can still make a difference at decisive moments. Sakatsume also left a beautiful image of resilience that will help her go further if she can turn it into consistent results.