Elena Rybakina is on her way to the U.S. Open semifinals and is poised to claim the top spot in the women’s tennis rankings. In a hard-fought match on Wednesday, Rybakina defeated Zheng Qinwen with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, securing her position as the new No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
The Australian Open champion is set to face either Coco Gauff (No. 4) or Mirra Andreeva (No. 5) in the upcoming semifinal match. Meanwhile, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will be up against Jessica Pegula (No. 3) in the other semifinal clash.
Regardless of the outcomes of the upcoming matches, Rybakina is set to end Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top spot when the updated rankings are released next Monday. Reflecting on her achievement, Rybakina expressed her focus on winning the tournament and staying grounded amidst the fluctuating nature of tennis rankings.
The match between Rybakina and Zheng began late due to a prolonged earlier match, with Rybakina citing challenges with the sun and shadows at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zheng managed to capitalize on Rybakina’s initial struggles, securing a lead in the first set before Rybakina rallied back to dominate the second set.
Notably, Zheng’s journey to the quarterfinals was marked by a remarkable comeback, qualifying through the tournament after elbow surgery and climbing back up the rankings. Despite her defeat to Rybakina, Zheng acknowledged the positives from her U.S. Open experience.
Rybakina’s advancement to the semifinals was crucial for her ascension to the top ranking, as a loss before this stage could have opened up the opportunity for other contenders to claim the No. 1 spot. In the men’s quarterfinal matches, top-seed Alexander Zverev and other contenders were set to compete for a spot in the upcoming semifinals.