New York (AFP) – Elena Rybakina ensured she will become world number one for the first time in her career by defeating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen to reach the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday.
Issued on: 09/09/2026 - 20:28Modified: 09/09/2026 - 23:12
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The 27-year-old Kazakh star rallied to defeat China's Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after two hours and 14 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ensuring she will replace Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus atop next week's rankings."It's just a number right now," Rybakina said after the match. "Of course I'm in the semis. It's an amazing achievement."I want to win the title still, so all my thoughts are just for the next match."Rybakina advanced to a Thursday semi-final against fourth-ranked American Coco Gauff, a two-time major winner who saved two match points in a 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 victory over Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the fifth-ranked reigning French Open champion from Russia."Elena is the new world number one," Gauff said. "It's going to be a tough match. These are the moments you live for."Current world number one Sabalenka and third-ranked American Jessica Pegula will meet in the other semi-final.Rybakina has a 1-1 career record against Gauff, winning a semi-final last month in Canada after Gauff won their only other meeting in Canada in 2022.
