Belinda Bencic powered past defending champion Naomi Osaka 7-5 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
The world number 13 secured her third consecutive win over the Japanese player with a powerful display which included 29 winners.
As a result of Osaka’s disappointing display, she now loses her world number one spot to Ashleigh Barty as she fails to defend her US Open title.
Next for Bencic in the last eight is either Donna Vekic after she battled past Julia Goerges 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3.
Having won their previous two encounters, it was no surprise to see Bencic dominate proceedings early on the match as punched holes through the Osaka defence.
After a nervy start, the defending champion had to dig in deep in the early stages as she prevented falling to a double break deficit.
The world number one then capitalised on some double faults and unforced errors from her Swiss opponent to break back as she started to find her feet in the contest.
Both players then maintained consistency on their serve as Bencic reigned in her power to construct some well-worked points.
In the end it would come down to who would take their opportunities and remain the more consistent, which proved to be Bencic towards the end of the set.
Finding the lines was key for the 13th seed as she maintained good margin on her shots to cause the defending champion major problems.
A hold to 30 after sealing the crucial break gave Bencic the early advantage to take the opening set in 49 minutes.
There was a positive start to both players’ performance in the second set as Bencic continued to expand on her impressive winners count.
Playing under pressure was what Osaka was used to but was now being affected by the Swiss’ aggressive return positioning and groundstrokes.
This proved evident as a break was conceded to love in the fifth game as the defending champion was on the verge of exiting the tournament.
Seeing the trainer did not help the world number one’s troubles as Bencic continued to pound winners past the helpless Japanese star.
There was no stopping Bencic now as another powerful forehand sealed her place in the quarter-finals and ended the defending champion’s reign as US Open champion.
Back in the QF! 💪@BelindaBencic defeats World No. 1 Osaka 7-5, 6-4 to reach the QF stage in Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2014…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/U77E34blRi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2019
As a result Osaka’s reign as world number one is over and now hands over the heavy responsibility back to Ashleigh Barty.
However take nothing away from Bencic, who hit 29 winners to power her way to the quarter-finals of the US Open and continue her impressive season.
After the match Bencic admitted she was pleased with her performance, “I was so excited to come on the court, the challenge cannot be bigger. Naomi Osaka is a great player and won the US Open last year. I had to be on top of my game and am really pleased with how I played,” Bencic said in her post-match interview.
Next up for Bencic will be Donna Vekic after she saved match point to defeat Julia Goerges in a near three hour battle.
