Elena Rybakina, one step away from becoming world No. 1! The tennis player managed to defeat Naomi Osaka in the US Open round of 16 and needs just one more victory to climb the rankings

Elena Rybakina, world No. 2, defeated Japan's Naomi Osaka, ranked No. 13 in the WTA rankings, on Monday, 6-1, 6-4, in the round of 16 of the US Open. The Kazakh player needs just one more victory to rise to the top of the world rankings, currently occupied by Aryna Sabalenka.

Rybakina dominated the first set, in which she managed two breaks and quickly ended the set with a powerful ace. Osaka, a former world No. 1 and winner of four Grand Slam tournaments, put in a better performance in the second set, but continued to be vulnerable on serve.

The Kazakh broke serve at 3-3 and pulled decisively ahead. Osaka saved two match points at 3-5, but Rybakina closed out the match immediately afterward, without hesitation.

For a place in the semifinals, Rybakina will face China's Zheng Qinwen, the gold medalist at the Paris Olympic Games and ranked 121st in the world. Zheng eliminated Poland's Iga Swiatek in the round of 16, the holder of six Grand Slam titles.