Elena Rybakina Overpowers Naomi Osaka to Reach US Open Quarterfinals

Elena Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 on Monday to advance to the US Open quarterfinals and move closer to the No. 1 ranking.

Elena Rybakina advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Monday afternoon with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The match lasted 1 hour and 6 minutes, with the No. 2-seeded Rybakina ending the contest with an ace. The victory moves the reigning Australian Open champion within one win of the world No. 1 ranking.

According to ESPN, Rybakina will replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings if she reaches the semifinals in Flushing Meadows. Even with a loss in the next round, she could still secure the top spot if Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula all fail to win the tournament title. Rybakina currently leads the WTA Tour in total aces recorded.

Rybakina is scheduled to face Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Zheng reached the final eight by defeating No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3. In that match, Zheng overcame a 5-0 deficit in the opening set, marking the second consecutive match in which she trailed 5-0 before winning. Zheng is the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals since 2021.

Swiatek, who entered the match with a 7-1 head-to-head record against Zheng, failed to convert two set points while serving at 5-1. Despite receiving treatment on her left thigh during the second set, Swiatek attributed the loss to unforced errors rather than physical or mental factors.