New York, Sept 8:
Elena Rybakina moved a step closer to becoming the world’s No. 1 women’s tennis player after crushing former champion Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time.
The second-seeded Kazakh produced a ruthless display inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, wrapping up the opening set in just 22 minutes before maintaining her control in the second. Her powerful serve and penetrating groundstrokes repeatedly put Osaka under pressure.
Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, never allowed Osaka to settle into the contest. The two-time US Open champion struggled to match the pace and accuracy coming from the other side of the net as Rybakina continued to dictate the exchanges.
The victory sets up a quarter-final clash with China’s Zheng Qinwen, who produced one of the tournament’s most remarkable comebacks to eliminate Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 after falling 0-5 behind in the opening set.
Rybakina’s path to the top ranking has now become a major storyline at Flushing Meadows. A further victory over Zheng would put her in position to reach No. 1 for the first time, while the final outcome will also depend on results involving other leading contenders.
The Kazakh has been particularly impressive throughout the tournament, having yet to drop a set. Her combination of a devastating serve, clean ball-striking and composure under pressure has made her one of the strongest title contenders.
For Osaka, the defeat brought her New York campaign to an end. Despite the loss, her return to the later stages of the tournament had been one of the notable stories of the championship before Rybakina proved too strong in the fourth round.
Rybakina, meanwhile, now has both a maiden US Open semi-final and the world No. 1 ranking within reach.