Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Elena Rybakina took another confident step towards a potential third Grand Slam title on Monday, producing a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over former US Open champion Naomi Osaka to book her place in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
The dominant win sets up a last-eight meeting with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and leaves Rybakina just one more victory away from becoming world No. 1 for the first time in her career. Zheng defeated Iga Swiatek earlier on in the day.
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The second seed made a blistering start, wrapping up the opening set in just 22 minutes. Despite Osaka enjoying strong backing from the crowd, Rybakina remained firmly in control with an impressive serving display. The Kazakhstani consistently found her spots and kept the ball beyond Osaka’s reach, converted two of her three break-point chances and finished the set with an ace as she raced into a commanding position.
This left the two-time US Open winner Osaka under immense pressure at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Osaka, seeded 13th, showed greater determination at the start of the second set. She was able to hold her ground on serve before Rybakina finally found the breakthrough in the seventh game to move ahead.
However, Rybakina soon regained control. Osaka appeared to be troubled at 2-2 when she grabbed her left leg, with the Achilles issue that had surfaced during her third-round match seemingly causing further discomfort. The 28-year-old managed to save a break point and continued to battle.
Rybakina, though, kept Osaka under sustained pressure with her powerful, deep hitting from the baseline. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the seventh game when Osaka sent a forehand into the net to hand her opponent the decisive break.
The Kazakh star then comfortably served out the contest, completing the victory in just 66 minutes and moving a step closer to both another Grand Slam crown.
Two-time US Open champion Osaka had spent the last few years working her way back towards her best form, with her resurgence including a semi-final appearance at last year’s tournament. This time, however, her campaign came to an end in the fourth round after being handed a difficult draw that brought her up against Rybakina earlier than she would have hoped.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
