Rybakina reaches US Open last 16, inches closer to No. 1

New York: Elena Rybakina, the world's second-ranked tennis player, advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Saturday, defeating unseeded Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. The Kazakh player, who secured her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, had previously lost to Starodubtseva during the French Open.

In Saturday's match, Rybakina struggled initially, conceding a 5-4 deficit in the first set after Starodubtseva capitalized on her forehand weaknesses. However, Rybakina regained her composure, breaking back in the tiebreaker with an angled drop shot and subsequently saving a match point. She exploited another of Starodubtseva's faults in the second set, breaking her opponent's serve to open the set and ultimately clinched victory in under two hours.

Rybakina acknowledged the match's difficulty, stating that it was not her best performance, but she appreciated the fierce competition with her opponent. The Kazakh athlete now requires two more wins to ensure her ascent to the top spot in the world rankings, surpassing Aryna Sabalenka, who is aiming for a third consecutive US Open title.

Despite this, Rybakina emphasized that her focus remains on the upcoming match against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, a player she has previously battled against.