Elena Rybakina is taking aim at the top, as the world No. 2 enters the Canadian Open quarterfinals with a chance to pull within four points of No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka’s Round of 16 loss opened the door for Rybakina, after the 2025 US Open champion fell to No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4.
“There are still a lot of matches I got to win,” Rybakina said of her pursuit. “I try not to think about the ranking, about the points, and just go [one] match at a time.”
SThe 27-year-old Kazakhstani is gearing up for a tough test in Toronto, facing No. 11 Naomi Osaka hot off three straight-sets wins.
“She’s an incredible player,” Osaka said of Rybakina. “She won the Australian Open this year. I’m just really excited to play her, because I have never played her.”
No. 4 Coco Gauff battles No. 12 Belinda Bencic in tonight’s other quarterfinal, while No. 7 Iga Świątek and No. 9 Elina Svitolina await in the semis.
Canadian Open coverage continues tonight at 7 PM ET (Tennis Channel).
