Elena Rybakina ended Zheng Qinwen’s spirited US Open run on Wednesday, guaranteeing her rise to world No. 1 as she booked a semi-final showdown with Coco Gauff. Rybakina beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and is assured of ending Aryna Sabalenka’s reign atop the standings — even if the Belarusian wins a third straight title. “It’s just a number right now,” Rybakina said.
“It’s a different achievement … but mostly you think about the titles at the end of the day.” Therefore, the 27-year-old Kazakh star will be focused on Gauff, 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.
Sabalenka will play third-seeded Jessica Pegula in Thursday night’s semi-finals — the first time since 1975 at the US Open that the top four women all made it to the penultimate round. Top-seeded Alexander Zverev completed the men’s semi-final lineup, cruising past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. Gauff made it by the skin of her teeth, struggling early and saving two match points in the tiebreaker.
She rallied with some inspiration from Frances Tiafoe’s come-from-behind five-set victory over Alex Michelsen. “I just had to reset,” Gauff said. “Honestly, I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back. I was just trying to leave the court without regrets.” Rybakina, the first Kazakh player to reach number one, is chasing a third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open in January — four years after winning Wimbledon.
“I feel like you will appreciate and think about it even more when you finish your career,” she said of the ranking. “Like now, you still need to keep on going.” Reigning Olympic champion Zheng, a former world number four ranked 121 after missing about