Elena Rybakina powered through her round of 16 match at the US Open, dispatching former champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets and keeping her quest for the world No.1 ranking firmly on track. The Kazakh star, who sits as the tournament's second seed, knows that a semi‑final appearance would guarantee her a return to the top spot, and after dismantling the two‑time champion on the iconic Louis Armstrong courts she appears confident that she can go all the way and lift the trophy in New York. The match lasted barely 20 minutes. Rybakina surged ahead to a 6‑1 first set, then secured a crucial break midway through the second set, stifling Osaka's attempts at a comeback and sealing a 6‑1, 6‑4 victory.
"I played really well today. I was feeling the ball was really good from my side," the former Wimbledon winner said in the post‑match interview. "I was a bit lucky in some moments, found some lines, but super happy with the performance. Naomi is a tough opponent.
I knew no matter the score I needed to focus on each ball as everything can change quickly. She is also a great player. I am glad how I played today.
I want to be world No.1. I don't know anyone who wouldn't wish for that. It is one of my goals. I don't know what will happen in my next match but if I serve well, as I did today, I think I have all the chances.
Hopefully it goes my way." Sky Sports commentator Laura Robson summed up the display: "Rybakina's level is just ridiculous. The crowd were keen to keep the match going but she silences them.
She had the answer to every question Osaka asked of her. From the first ball, Rybakina led that.
Cross‑court rallies, Rybakina led that, too. There was just no area where Osaka could find breathing room." Rybakina's next opponent will be China's Qinwen Zheng, who produced a dramatic resurgence of her own in the same tournament. Zheng, a qualifier, stunned former world No.1 Iga Swiatek to reach the quarter‑finals for the third time in her career.
After saving a match point and trailing 5‑0 in the third set against Madison Keys two days earlier, Zheng turned the tables on Arthur Ashe Stadium once more. Swiatek started the encounter strongly, racing to a 5‑0 lead in the first set.
However, Zheng refused to capitulate. She clawed back seven consecutive games to take the opening set 7‑5, then continued her momentum to close out the match 6‑3, delivering a 7‑5, 6‑3 upset.
The Polish star was left in tears as her campaign unraveled in a way few could have imagined. Zheng, who entered the tournament as a qualifier after a lengthy elbow injury layoff, became the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarter‑finals since Emma Raducanu's historic run in 2021.
Speaking after her victory, Zheng reflected on her performance: "I started the match not so well but I found my rhythm. It has been a long, long time since I played on a centre court and I really appreciate being here on Arthur Ashe Stadium. I took it point by point and little by little I started to play better and find my game. I even forgot the score at 4‑5 in the first set, which showed I was focused.
To come back from 0‑5 is not lucky, that's all I can say." Jonathan Overend of Sky Sports added, "It's a straight‑set win but it's one of the great comebacks. Go figure. How's that possible?
Zheng made it happen. Two games in a row, 5‑0 down in sets.
She got the win against Madison Keys to get the first set today, before completing victory against Swiatek for only the second time in her career. The Chinese dream lives on as the qualifier makes it into the final eight." The tournament also saw emotional moments elsewhere. Anastasia Potapova, the 25‑year‑old Austrian, fought valiantly against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva before a twisted knee at 5‑3 down in the third set forced her to retire. Despite strapping the injury and trying to finish the match, she could not secure another point, and Andreeva progressed 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3.
Andreeva, a rising Russian talent, praised Potapova's courage: "Anastasia is a good friend, and seeing what a battle we have and then seeing her fall is not easy. It's not the way you want to finish the match.
I just told her she is playing amazing and I'm sure she'll come back even stronger, she's a warrior." As the US Open moves deeper into its schedule, Sky Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from August 30 onward. Viewers can stream matches contract‑free via NOW, access highlights, scores and exclusive video content through the Sky Sports app, and even catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September. The tournament remains a showcase of resilience, talent, and unexpected drama, with the world watching to see who will ultimately claim the coveted champion's trophy.