NEW YORK, Sept 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Key quotes from the ninth day of the US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York on Monday:

"Number one is, of course, one of the goals. But I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles, and then the ranking will follow up. We go match by match, but obviously we want to win the titles, the tournaments."

-- World number two Elena Rybakina, who reached the quarter-finals with a win over Naomi Osaka and is assured of seizing the top spot if she reaches the semi-finals.

"Physically it was a real battle today on court. I was struggling a lot with my rib, especially while serving. It kept getting worse throughout the match. Eventually the doctor gave me some medication, which really helped me towards the end of the third set, where in the fourth set I could finally serve normal again how I usually serve. I think I got a bit lucky."

-- Alexander Blockx, who beat Francisco Cerundolo in four sets to become the first Belgian man to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

"I just kind of feel like maybe I'm more at peace in a way that I'm not as demanding of myself anymore. After winning French Open, I feel like every match that I play I have to win I won the biggest tournament of my life. Now I have to go out there and win every match that I play. Now ... I'm just trying to, like, forget that it was a Grand Slam, trying not to think about it, not overthink ... chill, enjoy and that's how I approach things right now."

-- Russian Mirra Andreeva on how she's managing her own expectations after winning her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

"In tennis, you're more used to losing than winning. I don't feel like I need to, like, bounce back from anything. Just need to focus on the work before next tournaments, and there are going to be other chances to play good tennis, and I will focus on growing and developing my game. That's it."

-- Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek after falling to Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round of the US Open.

"I think I am happy that I'm taking losses differently. I'm trying to learn from them a lot more. I'm sad that I couldn't do what I've set out to do, but if I think about my life, my daughter is healthy, everyone in my family is great. I had an opportunity to play this Slam. I got as far as I could."

-- Naomi Osaka who battled an Achilles tendon injury in her fourth-round loss to Elena Rybakina.

"No clue actually ... still standing, so that's a good thing."

-- Botic van de Zandschulp after rallying from two sets down to beat Arthur Gea in five in a five-hour, 13 minute marathon.

"I would say right now, the most important challenge for me is to keep this humble and be there, fight like I have nothing. The reality is you are just 125, so you are not the top 10 you were before. Don't treat yourself so high. You are here as everyone else. You start from the ground, so stay there and keep fighting."

-- Former world No. 4 Zheng Qinwen on adjusting after her ranking dropped in the wake of elbow surgery, forcing her to come through qualifying just to get into the US Open draw.