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 firmly on track. The Kazakh star, seeded second, knows that a place in the semifinals would automatically restore her to the top of the WTA rankings, and after dismantling the two‑time champion on the iconic Louis Armstrong court she feels confident that she can go all the way and lift the trophy in New York. The match lasted just over twenty minutes.
Rybakina surged ahead to close the opening set 6‑1, then secured a crucial break midway through the second set that halted Osaka’s brief resurgence, ultimately 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 champion explained in the post‑match interview. "I was a bit lucky in some moments, found some lines, but super happy with the performance." She praised Osaka’s quality, adding, "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 also reiterated her ambition: "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’ Laura Robson summed up the performance: "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, stunning former champion Iga Swiatek to reach the quarter‑finals for the third time in her career. 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 match around.
On Arthur Ashe Stadium she faced Swiatek, who raced out to a 5‑0 lead in the opening set. Zheng refused to surrender, winning the next seven games to take the set 7‑5, then continued her surge to close the match 7‑5, 6‑3.
Swiatek, the 2022 champion, was visibly shaken. She left the court in tears as her campaign unraveled in an unexpected fashion.
Zheng, a qualifier who entered the tournament after a long‑term elbow injury, became 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 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. Austria’s Anastasia Potapova, aged 25, fought valiantly but was forced to retire after twisting her knee badly while chasing a forehand in the third set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.
Potapova, who had the knee heavily strapped, managed to finish the match but could not win another point, and Andreeva claimed the victory 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3. Andreeva expressed sympathy, saying, "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, with streaming available contract‑free via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also catch highlights, scores, and in‑depth analysis throughout the tournament. The excitement in New York remains high, with several storylines converging: Rybakina’s quest for the No. 1 ranking, Zheng’s inspiring qualifier run, and the emotional journeys of players like Potapova and Swiatek. All eyes are on the remaining matches as the field narrows and the battle for the championship intensifies.