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 her victory. Rybakina won the first set 6-1 and the second 6-4, showing strong form throughout both sets. She hit a total of 29 winners during the match, compared to just nine from Osaka. Rybakina’s seventh ace of the match came at a crucial moment, finishing off the contest in 66 minutes. The victory gave Rybakina her first US Open quarterfinal appearance and completed her set of quarterfinal appearances at all four Grand Slam tournaments, according to the WTA.
This win moves Rybakina one step closer to reaching the No. 1 ranking in tennis, according to ESPN. She is now just one match away from achieving that goal if she defeats Zheng Qinwen next. Rybakina recently claimed her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year. Her current ranking is No. 2 in the world, which marks a career-best position for her. Even if she loses her upcoming match against Zheng, she can still reach the top spot. TNT Sports reported that Rybakina could still become No. 1 after a quarterfinal loss if Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff all fail to win the title. A victory over Zheng, however, would guarantee Rybakina the No. 1 ranking when the rankings are updated after the tournament.
Osaka, who has two Grand Slam titles from the US Open, was unable to match Rybakina's power and consistency. Zheng Qinwen will be a tough opponent for Rybakina in the next round. Zheng recently made a dramatic comeback after being down 5-0 in the first set of her previous match. She rallied to win seven consecutive games and defeated Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3. Two days earlier, Zheng had also come back from 5-0 down in the third set to defeat Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5. She had previously won Olympic gold in 2024 and reached the Australian Open final that same year. Zheng’s ranking dropped after elbow surgery, requiring her to qualify for this year's US Open. Her victory over Swiatek made her the first qualifier to reach the US Open women's quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu in 2021.
She has a history of overcoming difficult situations in matches, as seen in her recent comeback. Rybakina’s next challenge will be against Zheng, who has a strong record against top players. The two players have faced each other five times in the past, with Rybakina holding a 4-1 record against Zheng. Rybakina won both of their meetings earlier this season, defeating Zheng in Doha and Madrid. Swiatek had three set points while serving in the first set but was unable to convert them. During the match, Swiatek received treatment for a thigh issue after holding serve in the second set.
Swiatek said she didn’t think her mental approach had changed during the match. She added that her performance was more about making mistakes on easy shots rather than a lack of focus. Zheng expressed that she didn’t feel lucky after her comeback from a 5-0 deficit in the previous match. Her run in New York has marked a major return to form after the elbow problems that pushed her outside the world's top 100 and into the qualifying draw.