Rybakina cruises past Osaka, edges closer to world number one

Elena Rybakina, 27, produced a dominant display on serve, dropping only four points on it as she beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, 28, in straight sets.

Rybakina entered the match full of confidence after not dropping a set through her first three matches of the tournament. She took early control in the opening set, opening up a double break before closing it out in just 21 minutes.

Osaka showed more fight at the start of the second set but failed to convert her only break-point chance of the match. Rybakina then regained control, breaking serve to move 4-3 ahead and comfortably closing out the remainder of the match. Osaka struggled throughout to handle her opponent's deep groundstrokes from the baseline.

Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, wrapped up victory in 66 minutes, finishing with seven aces and 29 winners overall, compared with nine winners for Osaka.

Osaka reflects on major drought

After the match, Osaka revealed she had been dealing with leg pain during the contest. Asked about the near six-year gap since her last Grand Slam title, won at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka said that winning another major now would not have the same life-changing impact it once did, unlike when she won her first Grand Slam title.