Rybakina beats Osaka, meets Zheng

Elena Rybakina moved into the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinals on Monday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The No. 2 seed reached the last eight in New York for the first time, according to the tournament’s official match report. Earlier Monday, Zheng Qinwen beat No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 in Arthur Ashe Stadium after trailing 0-5 in the opening set. (usopen.org) The results set a quarterfinal between Rybakina and Zheng later this week at Flushing Meadows. (usopen.org) ### How decisive was Rybakina against Osaka? Elena Rybakina took control immediately on Sept. 7, beating two-time U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. (usopen.org) The official U.S. Open report described the performance as a relentless one and said it sent Rybakina into the New York quarterfinals for the first time in her career. Naomi Osaka had entered the fourth round after two three-set wins in her first three matches, while Rybakina had not dropped a set before their meeting. The tournament preview published Sunday had listed the match as the third contest in the Louis Armstrong day session, not before 2:30 p.m. (usopen.org) ### Why was this matchup getting so much attention before Monday? Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina had met only once before, according to the official pre-match preview, with Rybakina coming back to beat Osaka in Toronto less than a month earlier. The same preview called it one of Monday’s most anticipated women’s matches at the U.S. Open. (usopen.org) Elena Rybakina had also arrived in New York after an injury concern late in August. The U.S. Open reported on Aug. 29 that a left leg injury had forced her to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals, though she said then she felt confident heading into Flushing Meadows. (usopen.org) ### What exactly did Zheng do against Swiatek? Zheng Qinwen beat Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 on Monday to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals. The tournament report said Zheng erased a 0-5 deficit in the first set on Arthur Ashe Stadium and repeated the comeback pattern she had shown earlier in the event. (usopen.org) Iga Swiatek was the No. 8 seed and the 2022 U.S. Open champion. Zheng, identified by the tournament as a former world No. 4 and the 2024 Olympic gold medalist, had already come through qualifying before making the quarterfinal run. (usopen.org) ### Was this comeback a one-off in Zheng’s tournament? Zheng Qinwen had already rallied from 0-5 down in the deciding set against 2017 finalist Madison Keys in the third round, according to the official U.S. Open report. Monday’s win over Swiatek extended what the tournament described as Zheng’s return run at Flushing Meadows. (usopen.org) WTA match notes for Day 9 said Zheng entered the quarterfinal stage seeking her first Top 10 win since beating Aryna Sabalenka in Rome in 2025 and noted she had already lost twice to Rybakina in 2026. That gives the upcoming quarterfinal a recent head-to-head backdrop, though the official U.S. Open reports did not list those scores. (usopen.org) ### What comes next in the draw? Rybakina and Zheng are now set to meet in the U.S. Open quarterfinals in Week 2 of the tournament. The official tournament schedule shows women’s singles quarterfinal play is part of the Sept. 8-9 program in New York, with exact order-of-play details posted on the event schedule and daily schedule pages. (usopen.org) The 2026 U.S. Open runs from Aug. 30 through Sept. 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The winner of the Rybakina-Zheng match will move into the semifinals as the women’s draw narrows toward the final weekend. (usopen.org 1) (usopen.org 2) (wtafiles.wtatennis.com)