Elena Rybakina edged even closer to becoming the new world number one after she reached the US Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka. 

Rybakina will dethrone Aryna Sabalenka if she reaches the final four in New York, and she is now one win away from achieving that after her 6-1 6-4 triumph on Monday. 

The second needed just 66 minutes to get the job done at Flushing Meadows, with Zheng Qinwen standing in her way in the next round after her comeback against Iga Swiatek.

After an even start to the match, Rybakina took control with a break of serve early on before showcasing her quality and reeling off five consecutive games to race into the lead. 

Osaka was more competitive in the second, but she was still forced to save two break points as Rybakina threatened to take the match away from the two-time US Open winner. 

And an error-strewn seventh game from Osaka put her on the brink of elimination, but she remained in the fight and defended two match points against Rybakina on serve. 

But Rybakina would not be denied for a third time, with the Australian Open champion sealing her progression with a love service game, which concluded with a blistering ace. 

"I wasn't expecting that. I played really well today and felt the ball was really good from my side," Rybakina said. "I am super happy with the performance.

"I knew that, no matter the score, I needed to focus on each ball because everything can change quickly. She is also an aggressive player. I am very glad about how I played. 

"Of course, I want it [to become world number one]. I don't know anyone who wouldn't want this. I tried to approach it the same way and do everything I can and fight to the end of my next match. Let's see what is going to happen.

"If I serve as well as I did today, I think I can do well. Let's hope it goes well my way."

The hunt for No. 1 is on pic.twitter.com/auORQh3kF7

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2026

Can anyone stop Rybakina?

When asked about the possibility of becoming the world number one after her victory over Osaka, Rybakina insisted nothing would change with her approach, but even she must be thinking about ending Sabalenka's dominance at the summit.

Rybakina also reached new ground at Flushing Meadows, and she has done so with confidence. She is now the fourth active player to reach the quarter-final at all four grand slams without conceding a set en route, after Venus Williams, Serena Williams and Sabalenka.

Since 1975, Rybakina (61.2%, 30-19) trails only Serena Williams, Swiatek and Martina Navratilova (minimum 25 matches) for career win rate against opponents who have held the world number one ranking.

Should she defeat Zheng, Rybakina would become the 30th player ranked as the world number one in the WTA Rankings since its first publication in 1975 and Kazakhstan will be the 16th different nation to hold this spot in that span.

Rybakina would also become the second-oldest player since the WTA Rankings were published in 1975 to hold the world number one spot for the first time, younger only than Angelique Kerber, but she will know that beating Zheng will be no easy feat.