Redmond’s Kristina Liutova, 16, one win away from 2026 U.S. Open main draw
Aug 27, 2026, 8:04 AM | Updated: 3:33 pm
Kristina Liutova during a match against Darja Vidmanova in the WTA 250 Memphis Classic Finals. (Photo: Justin Ford, Getty Images)
(Photo: Justin Ford, Getty Images)
Redmond’s Kristina Liutova is one win away from the main draw at the 2026 U.S. Open — and the 16-year-old got there by fighting through a dramatic finish Wednesday night.
Liutova will face 25-year-old Martyna Kubka of Poland on Friday in Round 3 of qualifying at tennis’ final grand slam tournament of the year. The match had been scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to rain and lightning.
On Wednesday, she beat 21-year-old Serbian Lola Radivojevic in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
Serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, Liutova found herself down 0-40. She eventually held off four break points, then set up match point with a backhand winner up the line.
The rising tennis star, who was born in Moscow, Russia, and has been training at the Gorin Tennis Academy in Redmond since 2021, signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans after Wednesday night’s victory. If Liutova wins on Thursday, she will be in the main draw of the 2026 U.S. Open, which begins on Sunday.
When KIRO Newsradio asked Liutova last week what she would consider a good result for her at the U.S. Open, she said she did not want to focus on that.
“It’s obviously always important for me to have a great result. I always strive for a win, and that’s what you play tennis for, a victory,” she said. “Always you want to achieve that feeling of a victory, and it’s my favorite feeling in the world, honestly, but results, as I already said, will come with the work and trust (and) belief.”
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
