Rybakina reaches US Open quarters, eyes No. 1

Elena Rybakina defeated former champion Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, moving within one victory of reaching the world No. 1 ranking. The dominant performance at Flushing Meadows on September 7, 2026, marked Rybakina's first quarterfinal appearance in New York and continued her strong season, which includes a win at the Australian Open. The second-seeded Rybakina, who also won Wimbledon in 2022, controlled the match from the outset, overpowering Osaka with her serve and groundstrokes. The match lasted just 66 minutes, with Rybakina hitting 29 winners to Osaka's nine. Osaka, the 13th seed, appeared to be hampered by an Achilles injury that flared up during the match, though she managed to save a break point in the second set. For Osaka, the defeat extended her wait for another Grand Slam title. The four-time major champion, who last won a Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2021, has been balancing her return to tennis with motherhood since giving birth to her daughter three years ago. Despite the setback, Osaka expressed a changed perspective on success, stating that motherhood had altered her view of her career.