World No.1 spot takes a backseat as Elena Rybakina underlines her US Open priorities

Elena Rybakina is on the brink of adding her name to an established and coveted club that will cement her name among the greats. Following a very convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory against Naomi Osaka, the Kazakh is just one win away from securing the World No.1 spot from Aryna Sabalenka. However, the main target is clear: winning the title.

To add to that, she has sent out a statement of intent that this US Open crown could be heading her way. The two-time Grand Slam champion came into the event in much better form following a run to the Canadian Open final.

She backed it up with a quarter-final in Cincinnati but she ended up leaving Ohio with what could have been a detrimental achilles injury that would have scuppered her hopes of competing at Flushing Meadows. On the contrary, she was fit and ready to compete alongside the best players in the world.

Unlike other Grand Slam events this year, most of the high ranked players managed to make it deep into the competition with many still in contention. Rybakina is one of them and has looked good while doing so.

Straight set wins over Thea Frodin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Yuliia Starodubtseva set up a last-16 clash against two-time champion and last year's semi-finalist Osaka. It was in line to be a blockbuster clash, but in the end Rybakina was able to stamp her authority on the match and came out a relatively commanding winner.

Dropping just four points on her impenetrable first serve, she had to deal with just one break point with Osaka struggling to get anything back. It is their second meeting ever, both coincidentally coming in this North American hardcourt swing. The crucial thing is that Rybakina has won both of them, showcasing her class on court.

The performance seemed to have taken her back slightly. Not expecting to play as well, she commented on her thoughts straight after the victory in her on-court interview. “I honestly didn’t expect it,” she said.

“I played really well today. [I was] feeling the ball was really good from my side. A bit lucky in some moments. I caught some lines. … Naomi is a tough opponent. I knew no matter the score I needed to focus on each ball. She’s also an aggressive player. I’m very glad with the way I played today.”

All the while, every triumph sends her that extra step closer to topping the WTA rankings for the very first time, ending what will be a 99-week stint Sabalenka has enjoyed. She could be the first player to top the order not called Sabalenka or Iga Swiatek since Ashleigh Barty back at the start of April 2022.

“Of course I want it,” she continued. “I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t wish this. I try to approach the same, fight to the end in my next match – let’s see what will happen.”

It is still a four-way battle for this prestigious accolade. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff need to win the title and hope results go their way with Sabalenka relying on Rybakina to lose her next match before going on to making it a third consecutive title in New York.

While the No.1 ranking is all well and good, Rybakina's sights are firmly set on what would be a first US Open title, and third Grand Slam success. “The No 1 ranking is of course one of the goals, but I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles and then the ranking will follow," she said in her press conference. "So we go match by match, but obviously we want to win the titles, the tournament. So that’s I would say main main goal.”

It seemed that Swiatek would be the player in her way at the last-eight, but a hugely surprising defeat to the hands of qualifier Qinwen Zheng confirms the second Asian player on the spin Rybakina has to compete against. She defeats the former Olympic champion, the top spot is hers whatever happens at Flushing Meadows. Gauff or Mirra Andreeva will be her semi-final opponent if the Chinese is dealt with before Sabalenka, Pegula, Linda Noskova or Emma Navarro battle it out for glory.