Elena Rybakina powered her way into the US Open quarter‑finals with a commanding straight‑sets win over Naomi Osaka, keeping her bid for the world No. 1 ranking very much alive. The Kazakh star, who entered the match as the tournament's second seed, needed just over twenty minutes to close out the first set 6‑1 before breaking Osaka’s serve midway through the second set, ultimately sealing a 6‑1, 6‑4 triumph.
Rybakina’s performance on the hard courts of Louis Armstrong was a masterclass in aggressive baseline play and precise serving. After dismantling the two‑time champion, she said, “I played really well today.
I felt the ball was coming to me nicely. I got a little lucky at times, found some lines, but I’m extremely happy with how I performed.” She added that Osaka is a formidable opponent and that she had to stay focused on every point, noting, “No matter the score, you have to concentrate on each ball because anything can change in an instant. She’s a great player, and I’m glad with my game today.” The Kazakh also made her ambitions clear: “I want to be world No.
1. I don’t think anyone wouldn’t want that. It’s one of my goals.” She acknowledged that the next round would be a new challenge, but expressed confidence that a strong serve, like the one she displayed, would give her every chance to continue her run. "Hopefully it goes my way," she concluded.
Sky Sports’ tennis analyst Laura Robson praised Rybakina’s display, saying, “Her level is just ridiculous. The crowd wanted the match to go on, but she silenced them.
She answered every question Osaka asked of her. From the first ball, Rybakina was in control, dictating cross‑court rallies and leaving Osaka with no breathing room.” Rybakina’s next opponent will be China’s Qinwen Zheng, who produced a dramatic comeback of her own to reach the last eight. Zheng, a qualifier, stunned former champion Iga Swiatek in a match that will be remembered for its resilience and tenacity. After saving a match point and trailing 5‑0 in the third set against Madison Keys two days earlier, Zheng turned the tables again on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Swiatek started strongly, taking the first five games of the opening set, but Zheng refused to surrender. She rallied to win the next seven games, taking the first set 7‑5 and then dominating the second 6‑3, completing a stunning 7‑5, 6‑3 victory.
Swiatek, visibly shaken, left the court in tears as her campaign collapsed in an unexpected fashion. The Polish player, a former world No. 4 who had battled back from a long‑term elbow injury, became the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarter‑finals since Emma Raducanu’s historic run in 2021.
Speaking after her win, Zheng reflected on her performance: “I started the match a bit shaky, but I soon found my rhythm. It’s been a very long time since I played on a centre court, and I really appreciate being here at Arthur Ashe. I took it point by point and gradually improved my game.
At one point I even forgot the score at 4‑5 in the first set, which shows how focused I was. Coming back from 0‑5 isn’t luck; it’s hard work and belief.” Jonathan Overend of Sky Sports highlighted the magnitude of Zheng’s achievement: “It’s a straight‑set win, but it’s one of the great comebacks you’ll ever see.
How is that possible? Zheng made it happen.
She was down 5‑0 in a set, turned it around against Madison Keys, and then repeated the miracle against Swiatek, marking only the second time in her career she’s done such a thing.” He added, “The Chinese dream lives on as the qualifier moves into the final eight.” The tournament also saw emotional moments elsewhere. Anastasia Potapova, the 25‑year‑old Austrian, was forced to retire after twisting her knee badly while chasing a forehand in the third set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva. Potapova had already taken the first set, but after the injury she could not win another point, and Andreeva completed the match 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3. Andreeva expressed sympathy, saying, “Anastasia is a good friend, and seeing her battle and then get hurt is tough.
It’s not how you want to finish a match, but she played amazingly and I know she’ll come back stronger; she’s a warrior.” The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to watch without a contract. In addition to the main draw, the network will also cover the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27. The tournament’s drama, from Rybakina’s dominance to Zheng’s miraculous resurgence, underscores the unpredictable excitement that makes Grand Slam tennis a global spectacle.