Elena Rybakina defeated Zheng Qinwen to reach the US Open semi-finals, becoming the world's top-ranked female tennis player.
Key facts
- •Elena Rybakina is the 30th player in WTA history to reach the world No 1 ranking.
- •Aryna Sabalenka held the No 1 spot for 99 consecutive weeks before being overtaken.
- •Rybakina’s victory over Zheng Qinwen was a three-set match ending 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
- •Coco Gauff reached the semi-finals after defeating Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
- •Alexander Zverev advanced to his third US Open semi-final by defeating Botic van de Zandschulp.
- •Karen Khachanov moved to the semi-finals after Alexander Blockx retired while trailing 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.
Elena Rybakina has secured the world No 1 ranking for the first time after defeating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the US Open quarter-finals. Rybakina overcame a slow start to win the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, marking her first time reaching the semi-finals at the tournament. By advancing, she ends Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week consecutive reign at the top of the WTA rankings.
By the numbers
Overcoming Injury and Setback
Rybakina’s path to the semi-finals was complicated by an achilles injury that forced her to retire from the Cincinnati Open just 12 days before the US Open began. She reported that she was unable to train for seven days and remained uncertain about her physical condition leading up to the tournament. Despite these challenges, she maintained focus to navigate the draw, marking a significant improvement over her previous best result in New York, which was a fourth-round loss last year.
Upcoming Semi-Final Matchups
In the semi-finals, second-seeded Rybakina will face fourth-seeded Coco Gauff, who advanced after a comeback victory against Mirra Andreeva. The other semi-final will feature top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka against third-seeded Jessica Pegula. This marks the first time in 51 years that the top four seeds have reached the women’s semi-finals at the US Open. In the men’s draw, Karen Khachanov reached the semi-finals following the retirement of Alexander Blockx and will face top-seeded Alexander Zverev.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Sport.
