US Open 2026: Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details

At the ongoing US Open, Qinwen Zheng has been producing similar performances that helped her win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Playing as a qualifier, Zheng has already upset two Grand Slam champions, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.

She will be meeting another Grand Slam champion, a ruthless Elena Rybakina, in the quarterfinals. Rybakina beat a four-time Major champion in the fourth round.

Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng: Match Details

• Tournament: US Open 2026
• Match: Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng
• Time: TBD
• Round: Quarterfinal
• Surface: Outdoor hard court
• Date: September 9, 2026
• Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng: Match Preview

Elena Rybakina will be playing in the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in her career. Before this season, she had made the fourth round just once (last year).

The Kazakh ace is chasing her second Grand Slam title of the season. Earlier this year, she upset World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, winning the second Grand Slam title of her career.

Rybakina next reached three more finals, losing the Indian Wells Open to Sabalenka and the Canadian Open to Iga Swiatek. She won her second title of the season by defeating Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova at the Stuttgart Open.

If Rybakina wins the quarterfinals, irrespective of how Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula perform, she will reach her career-best ranking of No.1. If she loses the quarterfinals, Sabalenka will only be able to remain on top if she completes the three-peat. The two Americans, Pegula and Gauff, will only reach their career-best No.1 ranking if they win the title and Rybakina loses in the last eight.

While a lot of conversation revolves around these four women, there’s one player who has been leaving the tennis world in awe. It’s Qinwen Zheng, who pulled off two epic comebacks against Madison Keys in the third round and Swiatek in the fourth round.

The Chinese ace overcame a 0-5 deficit in the decider against Keys, and did the same during the first set against Swiatek. Zheng dropped out of the top 100 due to injury issues since her Paris Olympics win.

Since her quarterfinal defeat at the 2025 French Open, Zheng had not won a Grand Slam main draw match until this US Open. Due to her ranking, she had to secure a berth in the main draw by playing the qualifiers.

The 23-year-old is a one-time Grand Slam runner-up, reaching the stage at the 2024 Australian Open, losing to Sabalenka. At Flushing Meadows, Zheng will be playing the quarterfinals for the third time following the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Zheng has not yet reached a final since her defeat to Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals. Thanks to her run to the quarterfinals in New York, the former World No.4 has jumped from 121st spot to 52nd spot in the live rankings.

Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng: Match Prediction

Rybakina and Zheng will face each other for the sixth time. The Kazakh ace holds a 4-1 lead in the head-to-head matchups, also defeating her in this year’s Qatar Open and Madrid Open.

They will also be playing each other for the second time in Majors. It was in the third round of the 2022 Wimbledon where they faced each other for the first time. Rybakina won that match before defeating Ons Jabeur in the final to win her career’s first Grand Slam title.

Match prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.

Elena Rybakina vs. Qinwen Zheng Live Stream Details

• India – JioHotstar
• USA – ESPN
• UK – Sky Sports
• Canada – TSN, RDS
• Australia – Channel 9, Stan Sport
• New Zealand– ESPN
• France – Eurosport

Also read: Jessica Pegula Claps Back at “Future” Claims After Reaching 2026 US Open Quarterfinals