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Elena Rybakina will become the new WTA world number one after fighting back to beat Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reach the US Open semi-finals.
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The Kazakh star ends Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top and becomes the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach No. 1.
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Rybakina overcame a slow start against Zheng and saved a crucial break point in the deciding set before closing out victory in three sets.
The 27-year-old insists the ranking is secondary to winning the US Open, with a first title in New York now within reach.
September 09, (THEWILL) — Elena Rybakina’s ascent to the summit of women’s tennis was confirmed in dramatic fashion as she recovered from a set down to defeat Zheng Qinwen and book her place in the US Open semi-finals.
The second seed lost the opening set 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium but responded emphatically, taking the second 6-1 before edging through a tense deciding set 6-4.
The victory guarantees that Rybakina will replace Aryna Sabalenka as the WTA world number one when the rankings are officially updated next Monday.
She becomes the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top spot and the first player from Kazakhstan to achieve the feat.
For Sabalenka, it brings an end to a remarkable run at the summit. The Belarusian has occupied the top ranking for 99 consecutive weeks since October 2024.
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A Comeback When the Pressure Was Highest
Rybakina initially struggled against a confident Zheng, who had arrived in the quarter-finals after coming through qualifying and producing a series of impressive comebacks.
But the Kazakh quickly found another level.
Her powerful serve and flat baseline hitting began to dictate the rallies, allowing her to race through the second set and force the match into a decider.
The biggest moment came when Zheng earned a break point at 4-3 in the third set. Had she converted it, the Chinese qualifier would have been serving for the match.
Instead, Rybakina held her nerve.
She saved the opportunity, immediately regained control and won the final three games to complete a two-hour, 14-minute victory.
It was the kind of response expected from a player about to become the best-ranked woman in the world.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
