Rybakina closer to No. 1 after overpowering Osaka — SkimNews
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- Elena Rybakina dispatched Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 in just 1 hour 6 minutes, closing with an ace, to advance to the US Open quarterfinals.
- Rybakina is guaranteed to overtake Aryna Sabalenka as world No. 1 if she reaches the semifinals; she won this year's Australian Open for her second major title and could still reach No. 1 even with a Wednesday loss if Sabalenka, Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula fail to win the title.
- Zheng Qinwen overcame a 5-0 deficit to upset No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3, becoming the first qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021.
- Zheng had pulled off an identical 5-0 comeback two days earlier against No. 22 Madison Keys, rallying from a lost first set to win 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 — back-to-back miracle reversals after entering the draw via qualifying following elbow surgery.
- Naomi Osaka said she "isn't disappointed," telling reporters she is "taking losses differently" after last year's semifinal exit to Amanda Anisimova, with two of her four Grand Slam titles coming at the US Open.
- Iga Swiatek had been 7-1 against Zheng lifetime before Monday, with her lone loss in the 2024 Paris Olympic semifinals; she received treatment on her left thigh during the second set but said the injury wasn't decisive.
Why it matters: Rybakina's first-ever shot at the No. 1 ranking now runs through Zheng, the qualifier who authored consecutive 5-0 comebacks over Keys and Swiatek — meaning her coronation depends on solving the tournament's most improbable survivor. If Rybakina loses Wednesday, Sabalenka, Gauff or Pegula can still overtake her by winning the title.
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