Elena Rybakina powered past former champion Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals, moving within one win of becoming world number one.
The Kazakh star dominated with relentless power, while Osaka struggled with an Achilles injury that resurfaced from her previous round.
Rybakina will now face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who produced one of the tournament’s most remarkable comebacks. Zheng trailed 0-5 in the deciding set against six-time major winner Iga Swiatek but clawed back to seal victory on her fourth match point. The Chinese qualifier collapsed in tears after the win, becoming the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu in 2021 to reach the women’s quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Mirra Andreeva overcame Anastasia Potapova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in a match marred by Potapova’s late injury. Andreeva crossed the net to embrace her opponent after sealing the win.
In the men’s draw, Belgium’s Alexander Blockx continued his breakout run, defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The evening programme features Coco Gauff against Iva Jovic, Alexander Zverev versus Luciano Darderi, and Learner Tien facing Karen Khachanov.
