Elena Rybakina powered her way into the US Open quarter‑finals with a commanding straight‑sets win over Naomi Osaka, keeping her quest for the world No.1 ranking firmly on track. The Kazakh star, seeded second, knows that a berth in the semi‑finals would guarantee her a return to the top of the rankings, and after dismantling the two‑time champion on the famed Louis Armstrong court, she feels confident that the title is within reach.
Rybakina wrapped up the first set in just over twenty minutes, cruising to a 6‑1 lead before breaking Osaka’s serve midway through the second set to halt the Japanese player’s brief resurgence. She closed out the match with a 6‑1, 6‑4 victory that left little doubt about her dominance. "I played really well today.
I was feeling the ball was really good from my side," the former Wimbledon champion reflected. "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 praised the Kazakh’s display, noting, "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 second dramatic comeback in as many days at Flushing Meadows, stunning former champion Iga Swiatek to secure a third‑round quarter‑final berth.
Zheng's path to the last eight has been nothing short of extraordinary. Two days earlier, she saved a match point while trailing 5‑0 in the third set against Madison Keys, eventually turning the tide and winning the match.
On Arthur Ashe Stadium, she repeated the feat against Swiatek. After losing the first five games, Zheng rallied to take the next seven, sealing the opening set 7‑5 and then cruising to a 6‑3 second‑set win, completing a stunning 7‑5, 6‑3 triumph. Swiatek, visibly shaken, left the court in tears as her campaign collapsed in an unthinkable fashion. The 2022 champion, who had entered the tournament as a qualifier after a lengthy elbow injury, became the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarter‑finals since Emma Raducanu's historic run in 2021.
"I started the match not so well but I found my rhythm," Zheng said afterward. "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 Zheng's achievement: "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 [Monday], 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, was reduced to tears as her New York run ended.
After taking the first set against fifth‑seed Mirra Andreeva, Potapova twisted her knee badly while chasing a forehand in the third set. Despite heavily strapping the injury and fighting on, she could not win another point, and Andreeva secured a 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3 victory. Andreeva, a rising Russian talent, expressed sympathy: "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 progresses, Sky Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from August 30 onward. Fans can stream matches contract‑free via NOW, follow scores, results, and upcoming fixtures, and enjoy highlights and best‑shot compilations. The network also promotes its app for on‑the‑go news, video, and additional tennis content. The tournament promises more high‑stakes drama as the remaining competitors vie for the coveted trophy, with the world No.1 ranking hanging in the balance for Rybakina and the inspirational underdog story of Zheng captivating audiences worldwide.