Elena Rybakina Moves One Step Closer to World No. 1
08 September 2026, Tuesday 16:50Last Update: 08.09.2026 16:53
Elena Rybakina reached the US Open quarterfinals without dropping a single set.
The world No. 2 entered the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury that almost kept her out. Rybakina had not played since retiring from her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek.
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She admitted she missed seven days of training and prepared for the US Open day by day. In the fourth round, Rybakina defeated two-time champion Naomi Osaka in one of her best performances.
She will now face Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen for a place in the semifinals. A victory would see Rybakina overtake Aryna Sabalenka and become the new World No. 1 next week. The Kazakh star also celebrated reaching her first-ever US Open quarterfinal, calling it her best tournament in New York so far.
