Vondrousova Stuns Rybakina to Reach US Open Quarter-Finals
Marketa Vondrousova has once again shown her resilience on the big stage, storming past ninth seed Elena Rybakina to book a spot in the US Open quarter-finals.
The Czech left-hander, unseeded and seemingly under the radar, produced a gritty performance to claim a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory. It marks her second time in the last eight at Flushing Meadows – and her fifth Grand Slam quarter-final overall.
Marketa Vondrousova beats Rybakina in three and is moving on! pic.twitter.com/5llJFfpoWx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2025
Just a year ago, the 26-year-old was sidelined after shoulder surgery, forced to miss both the US Open and the Australian Open. Few expected such a rapid turnaround. Yet, here she is, playing with a freedom that’s troubling the world’s best.
This week, she has dispatched two top-10 players: first, Jasmine Paolini, the seventh seed; now, Rybakina, the powerful Kazakh and 2022 Wimbledon champion.
Her win follows another surprise earlier in the tournament, when Taylor Townsend stunned Mirra Andreeva in one of the standout shocks of the opening rounds.
“After everything I’ve been through it’s amazing to be standing here again,” Vondrousova told the New York crowd in her post-match interview.
Her reward? A quarter-final clash with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, a matchup that promises fireworks.
Vondrousova, runner-up at the French Open as a teenager in 2019, has always carried potential. Injuries have often interrupted her progress, but this resurgence has reignited her career narrative.
Sunday’s encounter was no stroll. Rybakina fought hard, snatching the second set, but Vondrousova’s clever shot-making and relentless defence wore her down in the decider. The Czech mixed drop shots, looping forehands, and sharp angles – a style that unsettled her opponent’s rhythm.
The Arthur Ashe crowd witnessed a player rediscovering her spark.
For Vondrousova, this US Open run is more than just a comeback. It’s a statement. Her journey back from surgery, her refusal to be defined by setbacks, and her capacity to challenge the game’s biggest names make her one to watch.
