Elena Rybakina Becomes World No. 1! Comes Back to Beat Zheng and Reach US Open Semifinals
Elena Rybakina has completed a remarkable comeback at the 2026 US Open, defeating Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals to reach her first semifinal at Flushing Meadows.
The victory was even bigger than a place in the final four. By beating Zheng, Rybakina secured the WTA World No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. The Kazakh star entered the tournament ranked No. 2 and needed a victory over Zheng to take the top spot from Aryna Sabalenka.
Zheng Strikes First in the Quarterfinal
It was Qinwen Zheng who made the stronger start. The Chinese qualifier came out aggressively and immediately showed why her remarkable run through New York had become one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
Rybakina struggled to find her usual rhythm as Zheng applied pressure from the baseline. A long ninth game saw Zheng save five break points, and she eventually took control of the set to win it 6-3.
Rybakina suddenly found herself one set away from exiting the tournament, while Zheng was just two sets away from another major upset.
Rybakina Responds With a Dominant Second Set
The momentum changed completely in the second set. Rybakina raised her level, served with greater authority and began dictating the rallies with her powerful groundstrokes.
Zheng, who had produced such a strong first set, struggled to maintain the same intensity. Rybakina raced through the set 6-1 to level the match and force a deciding set.
Zheng Pushes Rybakina to the Brink
The deciding set was far more competitive. Both players fought through tense games, with neither willing to give up control of the match.
Zheng continued to believe she could complete another upset. At 4-3 in the third set, she earned a break point that would have put her in position to serve for a place in the semifinals.
But Rybakina produced one of the most important points of the match, attacking the net to save the opportunity. She then went on to win six consecutive points and three straight games to close out the contest.
Rybakina Completes the Comeback
Rybakina eventually sealed the deciding set 6-4, completing the comeback after losing the opening set.
The final sequence underlined the difference in experience between the two players. With the match on the line, Rybakina stayed aggressive, recovered from Zheng's late pressure and found the level required to finish the job.
Qinwen Zheng's Incredible US Open Run Ends
Zheng leaves New York with plenty to be proud of. The 23-year-old entered the US Open ranked No. 121 and had to come through qualifying just to reach the main draw.
Her run included a dramatic victory over Madison Keys, followed by a straight-sets upset of No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek in the Round of 16.
Against Swiatek, Zheng again showed the fighting spirit that had defined her tournament. She recovered from 0-5 down in the opening set before defeating the six-time Grand Slam champion 7-5, 6-3.
Zheng's quarterfinal appearance was her third at the US Open. It was also a major milestone in her comeback after elbow surgery had kept her out for an extended period and contributed to her ranking falling outside the Top 100.
Although she could not finish the job against Rybakina, Zheng's run in New York has provided a major reminder of her ability to compete with the world's best.
Elena Rybakina Secures the World No. 1 Ranking
The biggest consequence of the victory came immediately after the match. By defeating Zheng, Rybakina secured the No. 1 ranking in the next WTA rankings release.
She will replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings, ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign at No. 1. Rybakina will become the 30th different player in WTA history to reach the world No. 1 position.
The ranking will be officially reflected when the new rankings are released on Monday, but the result in New York means the race for the top spot is already decided.
A Historic 2026 Season Continues
The No. 1 ranking adds another huge achievement to Rybakina's 2026 season. She arrived in New York as the reigning Australian Open champion after winning her second Grand Slam title in January.
Her US Open campaign has now taken her further than ever before at Flushing Meadows. Before this tournament, Rybakina had never reached the US Open quarterfinals.
She has now gone one step further than the quarterfinal stage and reached her first US Open semifinal.
Rybakina Reaches Her First US Open Semifinal
Rybakina's victory over Zheng sends her into the final four at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
The new world No. 1 will face either Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva in the semifinal. Whoever she meets, Rybakina will enter the match with the chance to move one step closer to another Grand Slam title.
For now, though, she has already secured one of the biggest achievements of her career: becoming the next WTA World No. 1.
What This Means for the US Open Title Race
Rybakina's victory has completely reshaped the top of the women's draw. She joins Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, while the final semifinal place will be decided by Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva.
Sabalenka will face Pegula in one semifinal, while Rybakina awaits either Gauff or Andreeva in the other.
The No. 1 ranking is now secured, but Rybakina's bigger goal remains the US Open trophy. She is just two victories away from adding another Grand Slam title to her Australian Open championship.