Fourth‑Round Showdown: Osaka vs Rybakina at New York’s US Open

The US Open 2026 women’s singles fourth round has produced a marquee clash. Naomi Osaka, after extracting a hard‑won 6‑3, 3‑6, 7‑5 triumph over Alice Mertens, and Elena Rybakina, who dispatched Yulia Starodubtseva 7‑6 (6), 6‑3, will meet in the next round.

Osaka’s victory was marked by resilience: she saved a match point, endured 41 unforced errors and 39 winners, and switched to a high‑percentage game plan in the final set, opting for soft, deep shots to nullify Mertens’ aggression.

Rybakina displayed composure under pressure, converting a tight first‑set tiebreak and then breaking early in the second set with a perfectly placed angled drop shot. Her decisive play prevented Starodubtseva from mounting a comeback.

The impending Osaka‑Rybakina duel is expected to be a tactical battle, with both athletes possessing contrasting styles – Osaka’s power‑laden baseline play versus Rybakina’s sharp shot‑making and court coverage.