New York, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina have advanced to the fourth round of the 2026 US Open women’s singles tournament. Osaka secured her spot by defeating Belgium’s Elise Mertens, while Rybakina overcame Yulia Putintseva.
In a match that lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes, Japan’s Osaka triumphed over Mertens with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. The four-time Grand Slam champion faced challenges, including three match points, but ultimately clinched victory when Mertens sent a forehand wide.
Osaka’s victory was hard-fought. She has been dealing with an Achilles issue since the grass-court season and required treatment from a trainer during a changeover in the third set. Her performance was not up to her usual standards, as she committed 41 unforced errors against 39 winners. After a strong start, where she won the first set and broke serve early in the second, she struggled to maintain momentum. To adapt, Osaka shifted her strategy in the final set, opting for softer shots to extend rallies rather than going for aggressive winners.
On the other side of the draw, Rybakina defeated Putintseva 7-6 (6), 6-3 to secure her place in the fourth round. Rybakina initially faced some uncertainty, allowing Putintseva to take a 5-4 lead. However, the Australian Open champion quickly regained control, breaking back with an angled drop shot and winning a tense first set tiebreak. Once ahead, Rybakina did not look back, finishing the match in under two hours.
The upcoming fourth-round clash between Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina promises to be an exciting encounter.
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