US Open: Zheng Stuns Swiatek, Rybakina Crushes Osaka
Zheng pulls off another comeback to beat Swiatek, while Rybakina dismantles Osaka to set up quarterfinal clash.
The update
Elena Rybakina cruised into the US Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka, keeping her push for the world No. 1 ranking on track. The second seed defeated Osaka 6-1 6-4 in just 66 minutes.
Why it matters
Rybakina will reclaim the top spot if she reaches the semi-finals. Her emphatic victory sets up a quarterfinal against Qinwen Zheng, who produced another stunning comeback to defeat former champion Iga Swiatek. Zheng fell behind 5-0 in the first set before reeling off seven straight games and breaking Swiatek twice in the second set to secure the victory.
What to watch
The quarterfinal matchup between Rybakina and Zheng promises to be compelling. Zheng, a qualifier and former world number four now ranked 121st, has become the first qualifier to reach the US Open women’s quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu in 2021. Rybakina has stated her goal to become world No. 1, while Zheng continues her remarkable comeback story after elbow surgery last year.
Sources
- skysports.com — Rybakina's victory over Osaka and her comments about wanting to be world No. 1
- AFP — Zheng's comeback victory over Swiatek and her status as a qualifier
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