Elena Rybakina rolls on as Naomi Osaka bows out of US Open - ESPN

NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina overpowered Naomi Osaka at the US Open and is a win away from the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis.

She just has to defeat Zheng Qinwen, which won't be easy. Even when Zheng goes down — way, way down — she refuses to stay there.

Rybakina advanced to the quarterfinals Monday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Osaka in a matchup of power-hitting Grand Slam champions. The No. 2-seeded Rybakina is guaranteed to replace Aryna Sabalenka atop the WTA rankings if she reaches the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

«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. «I try to approach the same way, try to do everything I can, fight until the end my next match and let's see what's going to happen.»

Trying to stop her will be Zheng, who made a daring escape from a 5-0 deficit for the second straight match. The 2024 Olympic gold medalist from China defeat No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 to become the first qualifier to reach the final eight at Flushing Meadows since Emma Raducanu won the title in 2021.

Two days after she was down 5-0 in the third set before winning the final seven games to stun No. 22 Madison Keys 1-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, Zheng quickly dropped the first five games against Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion.

«I guess to come back 0-5 yesterday is not lucky, that's all I can say,» Zheng said.

Elena Rybakina defeats Naomi Osaka and advances to the quarterfinals at the US Open