Elena Rybakina has entered the quarter-finals of the US Open tennis tournament by defeating Naomi Osaka in straight sets. Kazakhstan's Rybakina is now just one win away from becoming the world number-1 female player. He now has to defeat Zheng Qianwen to reach the top of the rankings, which will not be easy.
Rybakina won against Osaka 6–1, 6–4 in the fourth round. Second seed Rybakina will overtake Aryna Sabalenka to reach the top spot in the WTA rankings if she makes the semi-finals.
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The Wall of China in front of Rybakina
After reaching the quarter-finals, Rybakina said that she wants to become world number-1 player. She said, 'Of course I want that. I think there would hardly be anyone who would not want to become world number-1. That's definitely one of my goals. I try to play the same way. I use my full strength. I don't give up till the end.
Rybakina will now have to stop China's Zheng, who made a spectacular comeback from 0-5 down for the second consecutive match. The Olympic 2024 gold medalist defeated eighth seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 to become the first qualifier to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows. Earlier, Emma Raducanu had achieved this feat in 2021.
Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title this year by winning the Australian Open and the number two ranking is the best ranking of her career. If either Sabalenka, Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula do not win the title, she could still reach number one if she loses to Zheng.
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Coco Gauff faces this player's challenge
Coco Gauff defeated world number 14 Eva Jovic 6-1, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since winning the title in 2023. The fourth seed will face French Open champion and fifth seed Mira Andreeva, who defeated 24th seed Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
In men's singles, Van de Zandschulp defeated Arthur Gea 3-6, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), 6-4 in five hours, 13 minutes, the fourth longest match in US Open history. Karen Khachanov also defeated 14th seed Lerner Tian in five sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4 but the match lasted for three hours and 50 minutes.
28th-seeded Alexandre Bloix of Belgium became the first player from his country to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open by defeating 24th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. He will face Khachanov in the last eight.