Kazakh second seed Elena Rybakina delivered a dominant performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium, overcoming 13th seed Naomi Osaka with a 6-1 6-4 victory. This win propels Rybakina into the US Open quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old is now on the cusp of claiming the world number one ranking for the first time. She will achieve this milestone if she wins her upcoming last-eight tie in New York, regardless of whether top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka defends her title.
Rybakina is set to face China's Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals. Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion, advanced after a comeback victory against former champion Iga Swiatek in her fourth-round match.
Reflecting on the potential number one ranking, Rybakina stated, "Of course I want it, I don't know anyone who won't want this." She added, "I tried to approach it the same way and do everything I can, and fight to the end of my next match."
Rybakina's performance against Osaka was near flawless on serve, dropping only four points. She sealed the match in 66 minutes with her seventh ace, hitting 29 winners compared to Osaka's nine.