Elena Rybakina secured her rise to world No. 1 with a victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday, guaranteeing she will leave the U.S. Open atop the rankings. Meanwhile, 2023 champion Coco Gauff recovered from a sluggish start to reach the semifinals, where she will face the Kazakh.
A day after Ben Shelton eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the latest-finishing match in U.S. Open history, Alexander Zverev wasted little time wrapping up his quarterfinal as he swept aside Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.
The German top seed will meet Karen Khachanov in the next round after Alexander Blockx retired while trailing the Russian 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.
With Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, Rybakina, the No. 2 seed, Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, and Gauff, the No. 4 seed, all through to the final four, it marks the first time all four top-seeded women have reached a Grand Slam semifinal since Wimbledon in 2009.
Zheng had earned a reputation as a comeback artist at Flushing Meadows but ran out of gas Wednesday, losing 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 as Rybakina chipped away at her defenses after overcoming early mistakes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
