Rybakina thumps Osaka to reach US Open quarters, close in on top ranking

NEW YORK, Sept 7 : Elena Rybakina cleared another big hurdle in her bid to win a third Grand Slam title by outclassing former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-4 on Monday to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

The flawless victory for Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and this year's Australian Open, booked a last-eight clash with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and left the Kazakh one match win away from becoming world number one for the first time.

"Of course I want it. I don't know anyone who wouldn't wish for it. It's definitely one of my goals," Rybakina said shortly after reaching her maiden quarter-finals in New York.

"I'll try to approach (the match) the same way and try to do everything I can. Fight till the end in my next match. Let's see what's going to happen.

"If I serve as well as I did today, I think I have all the chances. I'll try my best. Hopefully it's going to go my way."

Second-seed Rybakina raced through the opening set in 22 minutes, converting two of her three break-point opportunities before sealing it with a booming serve to leave two-time New York champion Osaka on the ropes at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

"I didn't expect that. I thought I played really well, I was feeling the ball well," added Rybakina.

"Naomi's a tough opponent. I knew that, no matter the score, I needed to focus on each ball as everything can change quickly.

"She's a very aggressive player, so I'm so glad about the way I played today."

RYBAKINA TAKES CONTROL AGAIN

The 13th-seeded Osaka, who had arrived in style in a fur-collared overcoat that featured oversized signage, a mural-like city scene and a portrait, showed greater resistance early in the second set, but Rybakina soon seized control again.

Osaka clutched her left