Elena Rybakina powered through her US Open round, dispatching Naomi Osaka in straight sets and keeping her quest for the world No.1 ranking very much alive. The Kazakh star, seeded second, knows that a semi‑final appearance would guarantee her a return to the top of the rankings, and after a dominant performance on the Louis Armstrong courts she felt the momentum firmly on her side. The match lasted just over twenty minutes.
Rybakina seized the first set 6-1 with clinical precision, then broke Osaka midway through the second set to quell any hopes of a comeback, closing out the encounter 6-1 6-4. "I played really well today.
I was feeling the ball was really good from my side," the former Wimbledon champion said in the post‑match interview. She added that a few fortunate moments helped her find the lines, but overall she was thrilled with how she performed.
"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." Rybakina’s ambition is crystal clear: "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." Her confidence was echoed by Sky Sports’ tennis analyst Laura Robson, who praised the Kazakh’s "ridiculous" level, noting that the crowd’s attempts to prolong the rally were silenced by Rybakina’s relentless answering of every shot Osaka produced.
"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." With Osaka out, Rybakina now prepares to meet Qinwen Zheng in the quarter‑finals.
Zheng, the 21‑year‑old Chinese qualifier, has become the tournament’s most compelling story, pulling off a second dramatic comeback in as many days. After surviving a match point and trailing 5‑0 in the third set against Madison Keys, Zheng turned the tide on Arthur Ashe Stadium, then repeated the feat against former champion Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek started strongly, taking the first five games, but Zheng refused to surrender. She rallied to win the next seven games, sealing the opening set 7‑5, and then dominated the second set 6‑3, completing a stunning 7‑5 6‑3 victory.
The Polish star, visibly shaken, left the court in tears as her campaign collapsed in an unexpected fashion. Zheng’s triumph marks her as the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarter‑finals since Emma Raducanu’s historic run in 2021. Reflecting on her performance, Zheng said, "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 highlighted the rarity of such a comeback, calling it "one of the great comebacks" and noting that Zheng had already rallied from 5‑0 down against Keys earlier in the week.
The Chinese dream continues as Zheng moves into the last eight, embodying the perseverance and tenacity that define Grand Slam qualifiers. Meanwhile, other stories unfolded on the New York courts. Austrian rising star Anastasia Potapova saw her run end in tears after a painful knee twist while chasing a forehand at 5‑3 down in the third set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.
Despite heavily bracing her knee, Potapova could not muster a point as Andreeva rallied to win 5‑7 6‑4 6‑3. Andreeva expressed sympathy, calling Potapova a "warrior" and assuring her that she will return stronger. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming available contract‑free via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also catch the Laver Cup later in September at the O2 in London, all covered by Sky Sports’ comprehensive tennis coverage.