Qinwen Zheng has spent this US Open escaping situations that looked beyond repair, while Elena Rybakina has barely allowed her matches to become complicated.

Their quarterfinal brings together the tournament's most persistent comeback story and one of its most controlled performers.

In the Women’s US Open betting markets Rybakina's strong record in this match-up makes her the selection, although Zheng's fast starts provide an intriguing route into the contest.

Quick Picks

• Our Pick: Match Betting: Elena Rybakina
• Same Game Multi: Set 1 Winner: Qinwen Zheng + Match Betting: Elena Rybakina
• Alternative Pick: Set 1 Winner: Qinwen Zheng

Rybakina's control meets Zheng's refusal to fold

Zheng recovered from 5-0 down in the opening set to beat Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3, just two days after saving match point and overturning another 5-0 deficit in the decider against Madison Keys.

Those wins took the qualifier into the last eight and made her ranking of 121 a poor reflection of the tennis she has produced in New York.

Rybakina's route has been much cleaner. She beat Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round, striking 29 winners and taking 27 of 31 points behind her first serve.

She has won every match in the main draw in straight sets and would become world No. 1 by reaching the semifinal. With serving that dominant, it is worth keeping an eye on how she measures up against the fastest serves in tennis.

Date: Thursday 10 September 2026

Kick-off: 1:30 am AEST

Local Kick-off: 11:30 am EDT, Wednesday 9 September 2026 (scheduled)

Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York

How to watch Qinwen Zheng vs Elena Rybakina in Australia

You can follow the US Open in Australia through Nine and Stan Sport. Our guide to watching the US Open in Australia lays out the options if you want to check where this quarterfinal will be shown.

The opening set adds a twist

Rybakina leads their career series 4-1, but that headline leaves out an important pattern. Their last three meetings all required a deciding set, and Zheng took the opener each time.

That makes the two-leg multi a coherent alternative to simply backing a one-sided result: it allows for another sharp Zheng start while keeping faith with Rybakina's ability to adjust and finish the job.

Qinwen Zheng vs Elena Rybakina Prediction

Match Betting: Elena Rybakina is the pick, built on her serving authority, efficient passage through the draw and repeated ability to solve this opponent after difficult starts.

Zheng is playing far above the level suggested by her season before New York, and her resilience makes her dangerous if the match becomes messy.

Rybakina has offered fewer openings, however, and looks better equipped to control the decisive passages.