Elena Rybakina sailed into the US Open quarter‑finals with a convincing straight‑sets triumph over Naomi Osaka, keeping her bid for the world No.1 ranking firmly on track. The Kazakh star, who is currently the tournament's second seed, knows that a win in the semi‑finals would guarantee her the top spot in the WTA rankings, and after dismantling the two‑time champion Osaka on the iconic Louis Armstrong court, she feels confident that she can go the distance and lift the US Open trophy.
The match lasted just over twenty minutes. Rybakina raced to a 6‑1 first set, then broke Osaka’s serve midway through the second set to quell any hopes of a comeback, closing out the encounter 6‑1, 6‑4. The former Wimbledon champion was quick to praise her own performance. "I played really well today.
I felt the ball was coming to me nicely," she said. "I was a bit lucky at times, found a few lines, but I’m extremely happy with how I played." She added that Osaka is always a formidable opponent and that she had to stay focused on every point, regardless of the score. "Naomi is a tough player.
No matter what the score is, you have to concentrate on each ball because anything can change in an instant. She’s a great competitor, and I’m pleased with my game today," Rybakina explained. The Kazakh athlete also reiterated her ambition to finish the year as world No.1.
"Everyone wants to be number one. It’s one of my goals," she said. "I don’t know what will happen in my next match, but if I serve as well as I did today, I think I have every chance.
I hope it goes my way." Sky Sports' tennis analyst Laura Robson praised the champion’s display, calling it "ridiculous" in its quality. "The crowd wanted the match to continue, but she shut them down. She answered every shot Osaka tried to play," Robson observed. "From the very first point, Rybakina was in control.
She dictated the cross‑court rallies as well. Osaka never found a breathing space." Rybakina’s next opponent will be China’s Qinwen Zheng, who produced a second dramatic comeback in as many days at Flushing Meadows, stunning former world No.1 Iga Swiatek to reach the quarter‑finals for the third time in her career. Zheng’s story has been nothing short of sensational. Two days after saving a match point and rallying from a 0‑5 deficit in the third set against Madison Keys, she turned her attention to the Arthur Ashe Stadium for a showdown with Swiatek.
The Polish star started the match in blistering form, taking the first five games, but Zheng refused to surrender. She clawed back seven consecutive games to take the opening set 7‑5 and then overpowered a stunned Swiatek to close out the match 7‑5, 6‑3.
Swiatek, the 2022 champion, was left in tears as her campaign collapsed in an unexpected fashion. Zheng, who entered the tournament as a qualifier after a long‑term elbow injury kept her out of competition for months, became the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarter‑finals since Emma Raducanu’s historic run in 2021. Speaking after the match, Zheng reflected on her performance: "I didn’t start well, but I soon found my rhythm. It’s been a very long time since I played on a centre court, and I’m grateful to be here at Arthur Ashe.
I took it point by point, and gradually my game improved. At one stage 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 comeback, noting that while the win was in straight sets, the narrative was one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the tournament. "It’s a straight‑set win, but it’s also one of the great comebacks. How is that possible? Zheng made it happen," Overend said.
"She saved a match point against Madison Keys, then turned around Swiatek for only the second time in her career. The Chinese dream lives on as the qualifier moves into the final eight." The day also saw the emotional exit of Anastasia Potapova, who was forced to retire after a painful knee injury. The 25‑year‑old Russian had taken the first set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, but while chasing a forehand in the third set she twisted her knee badly. Despite a heavily strapped knee, Potapova tried to continue, but the injury proved too severe, and Andreeva went on to win 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3.
Andreeva expressed sympathy for her opponent, calling her a "warrior" and promising that she would return stronger. Overall, the US Open continues to deliver drama, upsets, and high‑quality tennis.
The tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup, which will be held at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also covered by Sky Sports. The narrative of the tournament is still being written, and with Rybakina and Zheng both riding waves of confidence, the semifinals promise to be a showcase of elite talent and relentless determination.