A 6-1, 6-4 win over four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has moved Elena Rybakina to within one victory of world No. 1 with the Kazakh facing a quarter-final test against comeback queen Zheng Qinwen at the US Open.
That scoreline was duplicated by 2-23 tournament champion Coco Gauff, who went past Iva Jovic in an American match-up at the final major of the season.
Ryakina will have it all to play for when the she takes on China’s Paris Olympic gold medalist who has made a habit of recovering from 5-0 down situations in her last two matches.
2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys and six-time major champion Iga swiatek were both on the receiving end of iconic Zheng fightbacks.
Reigning Melbourne holder Rybakina is ready to make her move.
“Of course I want it, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t wish this, but definitely that’s one of my goals,” she said.
“I try to approach the same way, try to do everything I can, fight until the end in my next match and let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Rybakina,who had to quit a match in Cincinnati last month with an ankle injury,, posted 29 winners against just nine for Osaka, with the Japanese saving two match points before taking the loss.”I played really good. I mean, everything was going my way,” the winner said after a 66-minute victory which ended with an ace.
“I catched some lines, (and) was playing really deep. I’m happy, a lot of things worked today for me.”
Gauff, 23, and the winner here three years ago, dispatched her second straight 18-year-old opponent in Jovic, two days after defeating Filipina Alexandra Eala.
The winner now faces a third teenaged test in 19-year-old Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva.
“It’s another tough match.
Mirra is someone that I always have tough matches with.
“She’s obviously in a different mindset now at the top of the game coming off of a Grand Slam win,” Gauff said.
“I expect her to approach the match completely differently than in the
past. I think it’s going to be a really athletic, tough match.
“Hopefully I can take my opportunities when I get them.”
