Vondrousova pulls off upset against Rybakina, Sabalenka cruises into US Open quarter-finals
Marketa Vondrousova stunned Elena Rybakina in a three-set thriller to reach the US Open quarterfinals, while defending champion Aryna Sabalenka dismantled Cristina Bucsa in straight sets
Aryna Sabalenka, US Open 2025 | © Zuma PsNewz
The top half of the women’s singles draw saw a mix of shocking upset and routine dominance on Sunday, as Marketa Vondrousova knocked out Elena Rybakina while defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her serene march through the US Open.
In the second most dramatic match of the day after Krejcikova – Townsend, Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, ranked No. 60, pulled off a surprising upset over world No. 10 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, winning a hard-fought battle 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory marked a significant breakthrough for Vondrousova, who reached the US Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2023.
The match was a captivating duel between two former Wimbledon champions (2022 and 2023) with contrasting styles. Rybakina is known as one of the tour’s most potent servers, while Vondrousova is celebrated for her exceptional return game. She finished the match with four unreturned serves. The other numbers told the story of Vondrousova’s triumph.
“Nothing to lose” for Vondrousova
Despite Rybakina’s reputation, Vondrousova was the more effective server, landing 70% of her first serves to Rybakina’s 62%. Vondrousova’s efficiency extended to her ability to convert break points, succeeding on 71% of her opportunities, a far superior rate to Rybakina’s 50%. The Czech also out-aced her opponent by a staggering margin of 13 to 5 and hit a total of 29 winners, displaying her aggressive intent throughout the three-set encounter.
Vondrousova’s performance validates her solid form this year, which includes a title run in Berlin where she defeated two top-10 opponents. For Rybakina, the loss marked a disappointing end to a solid North American summer hard-court swing, where she had reached three consecutive semifinals leading into the US Open.
After the match, Vondrousova expressed her excitement about advancing to the quarterfinals. “It’s incredible to be here again and play good tennis,” Vondrousova told reporters, adding that she had “nothing to lose.”
Sabalenka’s quick work
On the other side of the stadium, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of Spanish player Cristina Bucsa, posting a decisive 6-1, 6-4 victory to extend her championship defense. Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, is seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win consecutive US Open titles.
The Belarusian’s performance was a clinic in power tennis. Sabalenka overwhelmed Bucsa from the start, taking the first set in just 27 minutes. She hit 26 winners and dominated on serve, winning 84% of her first-serve points and 58% of her second-serve points, while only committing two double faults.
The victory extends Sabalenka’s remarkable streak of reaching at least the quarterfinal stage of the last 12 Grand Slam tournaments she has contested. “I was super happy with the straight-sets win,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. “I’m super proud. I think that’s an incredible achievement. I think the key is balancing on-court and off-court life. I’ve done a great job balancing really hard work and also great recovery.”
