Elena Rybakina has reached the US Open semi-finals and secured the world number one ranking after defeating Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Kazakh player recovered from losing the opening set to beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, ensuring she will replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings.
Rybakina, who becomes the first Kazakh player to reach world number one, will face Coco Gauff in the semi-final.
Gauff advanced after overcoming 19-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2. The American saved two match points during the deciding tiebreak before completing the comeback.
Rybakina is pursuing her third Grand Slam title, having won the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon four years earlier.
Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion, had entered the tournament ranked 121st after spending about eight months out with an elbow injury. She came through qualifying and won seven matches in New York, including victories over six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and former Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
She started strongly against Rybakina, using a powerful serve and varied shots to contain her opponent. However, Rybakina found her rhythm in the second set and eventually took control.
Zheng had an opportunity to break early in the third set but could not convert it. Rybakina broke in the following game and went on to secure the victory.
The other women’s semi-final will see Sabalenka face third seed Jessica Pegula. It is the first time since 1975 that the US Open women’s tournament has had all four top-ranked players reach the semi-finals.
Source: Vanguard
