Both players have shown impressive form in New York, but Rybakina's strength on serve and greater ability to control matches give her the edge against Zheng.
Rybakina Aims To Continue Her Grand Slam Momentum
- Zheng has a 1–3 record in quarterfinal matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
- She has lost nine of her last 11 matches against Top 10 players.
- Rybakina has a 4–3 record in quarterfinal matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
- She has a 33–6 record against players outside the Top 20 this year.
HTH - Elena Rybakina leads 4-1
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Madrid WTA | 3R | Clay | Elena Rybakina | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2026 | Doha | R16 | Hard | Elena Rybakina | 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2024 | Masters Cup WTA | — | Indoor | Qinwen Zheng | 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2023 | Beijing | 1R | Hard | Elena Rybakina | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2022 | Wimbledon | 3R | Grass | Elena Rybakina | 7-6(4), 7-5 |
Zheng Stuns Swiatek to Reach Third Straight US Open Quarterfinal
After playing four consecutive three-set matches, Qinwen Zheng defeated Iga Swiatek in straight sets to book her place in the quarterfinals at the US Open, winning 7-5, 6-3. She trailed 0-5 in the first set but produced an impressive comeback, saving three set points before completing the turnaround and then finishing the match comfortably.
The Chinese player struggled with fitness issues early this year and played only a limited number of events, losing significant ranking points that pushed her outside the Top 100.
However, she has won seven matches in this campaign, including the qualifying rounds, which has helped her move back toward the Top 50. It represents an impressive turnaround for the 23-year-old, who had also failed to win a match in her lead-up events.
This is Zheng's fifth Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career and her third consecutive US Open quarterfinal. All three of her previous losses at this stage came against Aryna Sabalenka, and she will now face another Top 2 player this week.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Age | Born 8 October 2002 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 121 |
| Career High | No. 4 (16 June 2025) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 40 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 4 |
Rybakina Finally Breaks Through to Her First US Open Quarterfinal
Elena Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals at the US Open, winning 6-1, 6-4. She won 87% of her first-serve points and did not lose her serve during the match.
This is Rybakina's first US Open quarterfinal. Last year, she had the opportunity to reach this stage but lost to Marketa Vondrousova in the fourth round.
The Kazakh has faced some early exits before the North American swing but rejuvenated her form in this region by reaching the final in Toronto and the quarterfinals in Cincinnati. She has continued that surge this week.
The 27-year-old had an opportunity to claim the No. 1 ranking in Cincinnati but retired from her quarterfinal due to injury. She is now one win away from having another opportunity to achieve that milestone and will be determined to make the most of it.
Overall, Rybakina has a 4-3 record in Grand Slam quarterfinals and has won both of her matches at this stage on hard courts.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Age | Born 17 June 1999 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 2 |
| Career High | No. 2 (16 March 2026) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 3 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 13 |