Rybakina Nears No. 1
Elena Rybakina dominates Naomi Osaka to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals and nears No. 1 ranking.
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Key Points
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Rybakina dominated with 29 winners and seven aces, taking the opening set in just 22 minutes and closing out the match with an ace.
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Zheng Qinwen became the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the U.S. Open women’s quarterfinals, despite battling a chronic elbow injury that had disrupted her career.
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Zheng’s victory over Swiatek followed her second consecutive major comeback from a 5-0 deficit: two days earlier, she won the final seven games to defeat Madison Keys after falling behind 0-5 in the deciding set.
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Rybakina said the potential No. 1 ranking is one of her goals but that she intends to focus on the match itself: “If I serve as well as I did today, I think I have all the chances.”
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Although Rybakina would take the top ranking by reaching the semifinals, she could still become No. 1 even if she loses to Zheng, provided Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula do not win the tournament.
Elena Rybakina overpowered two-time U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 in 66 minutes on Monday to reach the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, moving one step closer to the WTA world No. 1 ranking Jamaica Gleaner. Rybakina fired 29 winners and seven aces, dismantling the opening set in just 22 minutes and clinching the match with an ace. She will face China's Zheng Qinwen, who pulled off a stunning 7-5, 6-3 upset of sixth-ranked Iga Swiatek after trailing 0-5 in the first set NTD.
Rybakina can guarantee the No. 1 ranking by reaching the semifinals, though she could claim the top spot even with a quarterfinal loss if rivals Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula fail to win the tournament NTD. Rybakina said the potential ranking is a goal, but she intends to stay focused on Zheng: "If I serve as well as I did today, I think I have all the chances Vindy."
Rybakina's Dominant Serve Overwhelms Osaka
Rybakina's power tennis proved too much for Osaka from the start. She won the first set in 22 minutes, breaking Osaka's serve twice and hitting winners from all parts of the court Jamaica Gleaner. Osaka improved slightly in the second set but could not match Rybakina's sustained aggression. Osaka also battled an Achilles tendon problem and a leg issue, limiting her movement and ability to mount a comeback Vindy.
Zheng Becomes First Qualifier in Five Years to Reach Quarterfinals
Zheng Qinwen wrote another chapter in her remarkable comeback story, becoming the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the U.S. Open women's quarterfinals NTD. The feat is even more striking given that Zheng dropped to world No. 121 after elbow surgery in 2025, forcing her into the three-round qualifying draw at Flushing Meadows NTD.
Zheng's 7-5, 6-3 victory over Swiatek capped a stretch of improbable recoveries. Two days earlier, she rallied from a 0-5 deficit against Madison Keys, saving a match point to win 1-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 Vindy. Against Swiatek, she saved three set points while trailing 0-5 before winning seven consecutive games to close out the upset Jamaica Gleaner.
Rybakina Favored Despite Zheng's Head-to-Head Edge in Momentum
Rybakina holds a 4-1 edge in career meetings with Zheng, suggesting structural superiority on paper Jamaica Gleaner. However, Zheng arrives as the tournament's "escape artist," having proven she can erase double-digit deficits and neutralize top competition. The 2024 Olympic champion demonstrated she can shift momentum at any moment NTD.
Rybakina's serving performance against Osaka—seven aces and 29 winners in 66 minutes—sets the blueprint for success. If she maintains that level and avoids mental lapses, her power should prevail. But Zheng's resilience means Rybakina must stay sharp throughout the entire match Vindy.
No. 1 Ranking Within Reach, but Scenarios Remain Complex
Reaching the semifinals guarantees Rybakina the world No. 1 ranking, ending Aryna Sabalenka's reign at the top Jamaica Gleaner. But the path is more flexible than a single match. Even if Rybakina loses in the quarterfinals, she could still claim No. 1 if Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula all fall short of winning the title, since WTA points are cumulative across the season NTD.
Osaka, despite the loss, expressed a constructive view of her performance. Though disappointed, she framed the match as part of her technical development as she returns from injury Jamaica Gleaner. The official WTA rankings update is scheduled for Monday, September 14, meaning Rybakina's status could shift as soon as this week NTD.
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