Elena Rybakina cruised into the US Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka to keep her push for the world No 1 ranking on track.
Rybakina will reclaim the top spot if she reaches the semi-finals, and after dismantling two-time champion Osaka on Louis Armstrong, she has every reason to believe she can go all the way and lift the US Open trophy.
It took the second seed just over 20 minutes to wrap up the first set 6-1 before securing a decisive break midway through the second to quell a resurgent Osaka and seal an emphatic 6-1 6-4 victory.
"I played really well today. I was feeling the ball was really good from my side," the former Wimbledon champion said. "I was a bit lucky in some moments, found some lines, but super happy with the performance.
"Naomi is a tough opponent. I knew no matter the score I needed to focus on each ball as everything can change quickly. She is also a great player. I am glad how I played today.
"I want to be world No 1. I don't know anyone who wouldn't wish for that. It is one of my goals.
"I don't know what will happen in my next match but if I serve well, as I did today, I think I have all the chances. Hopefully it goes my way."
Your Site Tennis' Laura Robson:
"Rybakina's level is just ridiculous.
"The crowd were keen to keep the match going but she silences them. She had the answer to every question Osaka asked of her.
"From the first ball, Rybakina led that. Cross-court rallies, Rybakina led that, too. There was just no area where Osaka could find breathing room."
Rybakina will face Qinwen Zheng in the last eight after the Chinese star produced a second epic comeback in as many days at the US Open, stunning former champion Iga Swiatek to reach the quarter-finals for the third time.
Two days after saving match point while trailing 5-0 in the third set against Madison Keys, Zheng mounted another remarkable fightback on Arthur Ashe.
Swiatek won the first five games, but Zheng simply refused to roll over, winning the next seven to clinch the opening set before overpowering her shellshocked opponent to complete an astonishing 7-5 6-3 victory.
A stunned Swiatek never recovered, with the 2022 champion leaving the court in tears as her campaign unravelled in unthinkable fashion.
The former world No 4, who came through qualifying after being sidelined by a long-term elbow injury, became the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals since Emma Raducanu won the tournament in 2021.
"I started the match not so well but I found my rhythm," Zheng said.
"It has been a long, long time since I played on a centre court and I really appreciate being here on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I took it point by point and little by little I started to play better and find my game.
"I even forgot the score at 4-5 in the first set, which showed I was focused. To come back from 0-5 is not lucky, that's all I can say."
Your Site Tennis' Jonathan Overend:
"It's a straight-set win but it's one of the great comebacks. Go figure. How's that possible? Zheng made it happen.
"Two games in a row, 5-0 down in sets. She got the win against Madison Keys to get the first set today [Monday], before completing victory against Swiatek for only the second time in her career."
"The Chinese dream lives on as the qualifier makes it into the final eight."
Anastasia Potapova was in floods of tears as her stay in New York came to an end.
The 25-year-old Austrian won the first set against fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, but, at 5-3 down in the third she badly twisted her knee chasing a forehand down.
Potapova had the knee heavily strapped up and bravely finished the match, but did not win another point as French Open champion Andreeva triumphed 5-7 6-4 6-3.
"Anastasia is a good friend, and seeing what a battle we have and then seeing her fall is not easy," said Russian teenager Andreeva.
"It's not the way you want to finish the match. I just told her she is playing amazing and I'm sure she'll come back even stronger, she's a warrior."
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