The US Open. It’s a place where veterans and debutants alike try to make their mark at the last Slam of the season. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for Spain’s Nuria Parrizas-Diaz. Her campaign at Flushing Meadows came to an abrupt end when she took a tumble just four games into her first-round match. At that time, she was level at 2-2 against Polina Kudermetova.

She had two break points when she fell to the ground after rolling her ankle. She buried her head in a towel and began crying as the court staff checked on her leg and the ball kids rushed over with umbrellas to shield her. Parrizas-Diaz’s ankle was strapped, and she tried to walk with it. Though she attempted to play after a long delay, she soon realized it was impossible for her. And just like that, she retired after 24 minutes into the match, as reported by ‘Express’.

It was a sad incident, considering Parrizas-Diaz was looking to win her very first match in Flushing Meadows. And former world No. 6 Sara Sorribes Tormo watched the whole incident with concern. She is the captain of Spain’s Billie Jean King Cup team.

The umpire announced Parrizas-Diaz’s retirement, and with that, Kudermetova entered the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the very first time. She is set to face either Rebeka Masarova or Aryna Sabalenka.

It could be a rematch of the Brisbane International final from back in January. Kudermetova had gone into the championship match as a qualifier and had taken the first set. However, Sabalenka rallied back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The US Open only adds to Nuria Parrizas’ frustration

Last month in Prague, Nuria Parrizas-Diaz’s debut ended in heartbreak. Facing France’s Leolia Jeanjean, ranked No. 99, she trailed 6-3, 2-0 when physical issues forced her to stop. The Granada native had already fallen behind 4-0 after dropping two early breaks. She lost the first set 6-3, and then, in the second, weakened and, needing treatment, retired mid-match. Jeanjean advanced to face ninth seed Ann Li while Parrizas was left searching for answers.

The season kept piling on. Of the 13 tournaments she entered in 2025, Parrizas crashed out of several in the first round. A long losing streak weighed heavily, sapping her confidence. Yet, the storm broke in Bari, where she fought her way to the semifinals in June. That little run didn’t just stop the slump—it handed her proof that winning was still possible.

In June, she spoke candidly to ‘Punto de break’ about what kept her moving. When asked if her latest WTA 125K title was her most special, she replied, “I’m not sure if it’s the most special, but considering the moment I was in, it has been a great reward. In another moment, if you are feeling good and win the tournament, maybe you don’t enjoy it as much.

“I was coming from a disastrous clay court tour, losing many matches in a row, many of them in the third set, but they always ended on the other side.” So what drove her to keep fighting? The biggest stages. “The Grand Slams drive me, these tournaments are amazing, that’s where I truly want to be and play,” she said, recalling her two third-round runs at the Australian Open. But the 2025 Slams haven’t been kind—first-round exit in Melbourne, failed qualifiers at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and now the US Open heartbreak.

Her tears tell the story of a season gone wrong. Will she bounce back before year’s end, or will 2026 bring her the reset she is chasing? Only time will tell. In the meantime, don’t miss any US Open updates with our Live Blog here!