Elena Rybakina secured her place in the US Open quarterfinals with a commanding performance against Naomi Osaka. The match lasted just one hour and six minutes, ending with an ace from Rybakina that sealed the victory. Rybakina won the first set 6-1 and followed it up with a 6-4 triumph in the second set. She hit a total of twenty-nine winners throughout the match, compared to just nine from Osaka. Rybakina’s seventh ace of the match came at the very end, finishing off the contest in under an hour and a half.
This win puts Rybakina one step closer to reaching the final of the US Open, according to ESPN. She will now face Zheng Qinwen in the next round, a match that promises to be challenging. Zheng has shown resilience recently, having overcome a 5-0 deficit in the first set of her previous match. The Chinese player managed to win seven straight games after being down in that match. Zheng had previously reached the Australian Open final and was a US Open quarterfinalist in both 2023 and 2024. She has since undergone elbow surgery and had to qualify for this year’s main draw of the US Open.
Rybakina recently won her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year. Her current world ranking is No. 2, which marks a career-best position for her. Even if she loses in the next match, Rybakina can still climb to the No. 1 spot in the rankings.
Osaka, who has won two Grand Slam titles at the US Open, was outplayed by Rybakina’s powerful game. The match was a showcase of power hitting from both players, but Rybakina’s consistency proved decisive.
Rybakina's performance against Osaka was not only about strength, but also about control and precision. She managed to keep her composure even when facing tough moments in the match. Swiatek noted that mistakes came more easily from her side during certain points of her match against Zheng.
Zheng’s ability to stay in the match despite being behind gave her a strong advantage. Swiatek said she did not think the outcome was due to mental factors but more to errors on her part.
The next round will be a tough test for Rybakina as she faces a player who has shown she can fight back from difficult positions. Zheng’s recent form and her history of overcoming deficits make this match one to watch closely. Rybakina has already proven herself a top contender at Grand Slam events with her latest win.
Her performance in New York reflects the high level of play she brings to every match.