Open quarterfinals on Monday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, placing her just one win away from claiming the No. 1 ranking in women’s tennis, according to reports from the Associated Press. To secure the top spot, the No. 2-seeded Rybakina must defeat Zheng Qinwen in the next round at Flushing Meadows.
Elena Rybakina Eyes No. 1 Ranking After Straight-Set Win Over Naomi Osaka
Rybakina dispatched Osaka in just one hour and six minutes in a matchup of power-hitting Grand Slam champions. According to the Associated Press, Osaka appeared to struggle with a foot or ankle problem during the contest. Rybakina sealed the victory with an ace, extending her tour-leading status in that statistical category. With the win, the Australian Open champion is guaranteed to replace Aryna Sabalenka atop the WTA rankings if she reaches the semifinals.
“Of course I want it, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t wish this, but definitely that’s one of my goals,” Rybakina said, as reported by the Associated Press. Even with a loss on Wednesday, Rybakina can still claim the top ranking if neither Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, nor Jessica Pegula wins the tournament title.
Zheng Qinwen Stages Another Historic Comeback Against Iga Swiatek
Standing between Rybakina and the semifinals is Zheng Qinwen, who engineered a remarkable escape against No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek. According to the Associated Press, Zheng dropped the first five games of the match before rallying to secure a 7-5, 6-3 victory. This marks the second match in which Zheng overcame a 5-0 deficit, following a similar comeback against Madison Keys two days prior.
Zheng’s victory makes her the first qualifier to reach the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021, according to the Associated Press. Open champion. “It was more that I started making mistakes from easy balls and Qinwen stopped doing mistakes,” Swiatek said, according to the Associated Press.
Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva Set Up Quarterfinal Clash
Open quarterfinals for the first time since winning her maiden major title at the venue in 2023, according to the Associated Press. The No. 4 seed will face French Open champion Mirra Andreeva.
Andreeva advanced by overcoming Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. According to the Associated Press, Andreeva paused competition to assist Potapova after her opponent suffered a knee injury during the final game of the match.
Historic Five-Set Marathons Shape Men’s Draw
Gea entered the main draw as a replacement for Casper Ruud, who withdrew due to a back injury.
Van de Zandschulp advances to play top-seeded Alexander Zverev, who defeated Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Did you know? Open women’s singles quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu won the entire tournament in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elena Rybakina need to do to reach No. 1 in the WTA rankings?
Rybakina is guaranteed to take the No. 1 ranking if she defeats Zheng Qinwen and reaches the semifinals at Flushing Meadows. Even with a loss, she can still claim the top spot if Sabalenka, Gauff, and Pegula fail to win the title.
How did Zheng Qinwen reach the quarterfinals?
Zheng entered the tournament through the qualifying rounds following a ranking drop due to elbow surgery. She secured her spot in the quarterfinals by overcoming a 5-0 deficit to beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
Who will Coco Gauff play in the next round?
Open quarterfinals.
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