US Open: Rybakina advances past Osaka to quarterfinals, Bublik withdraws from doubles

Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina defeated Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinals. She needs just one more win in New York to become the WTA world No. 1. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik, who was playing doubles with China’s Shang Juncheng, withdrew from the tournament.

The first set lasted 21 minutes. Rybakina dominated with her powerful serve and groundstrokes, breaking Osaka in the fourth and sixth games to take the set 6-1. 

The second set proved more competitive, with both players holding serve through 3-3. Rybakina then secured a crucial break in the seventh game and went on to close out the match 6-1, 6-4 in 66 minutes. She led Osaka in aces 6-2 and hit one double fault to Osaka’s five. Rybakina also won 60 points to Osaka’s 41.

In the quarterfinals, Rybakina will face China’s Qinwen Zheng (world No. 121), who upset Poland’s Iga Świątek (world No. 8) 7-5, 6-3 in the round of 16. Rybakina leads her head-to-head record against the 2024 Olympic champion 4-1. A fifth victory over Zheng would make Rybakina the WTA world No. 1 for the first time, regardless of the results of the other players at the 2026 U.S. Open.

Meanwhile, no Kazakhstani players remain in the main doubles draw. Earlier, Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunić ended their run after Krunić suffered a knee injury. On Sept. 7, Alexander Bublik and Shang Juncheng’s doubles run ended in a walkover. Bublik had previously been eliminated from the singles draw. In the U.S. Open Junior Championships, Damir Zhalgasbay continues his run in the doubles draw alongside American Safir Azam.

The U.S. Open is an annual hard-court tournament and the final of the four Grand Slam events on the tennis calendar. The total prize pool for this year’s New York major is $108 million, the largest in Grand Slam history.

Since 1978, the tournament has been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City.

The reigning singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.