Story perspectives

Rybakina Reaches U.S. Open Quarterfinals vs Zheng Qinwen

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Elena Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, a match that could give her No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4.
Rybakina has not dropped a set and has lost only 25 games in the tournament.
Zheng rallied from 0-5 down to beat Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek, saving a match point in a 7-5, 6-3 win.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, Serena Williams captured the US Open women’s singles title at Flushing Meadows, defeating Venus Williams and securing her first world No. 1 ranking. The tournament awarded $1.8 million to the champion, and the WTA logged a 98 % match-completion rate that year, attracting roughly 500,000 spectators. Rybakina’s unbeaten run, losing only 25 games, and Zheng’s rally from 0-5 down echo Serena’s dominance and the dramatic comebacks that defined the 2002 US Open. These parallels suggest the 2024 quarterfinals could reshape the WTA hierarchy, just as 2002 sparked a new global competitive era.

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Story summary

Elena Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, a match that could give her No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4.
Rybakina has not dropped a set and has lost only 25 games in the tournament.
Zheng rallied from 0-5 down to beat Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek, saving a match point in a 7-5, 6-3 win.

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