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Elena Rybakina Claims No. 1 After US Open Quarterfinal Win
Elena Rybakina won a tennis match at the US Open against Qinwen Zheng.
Zheng won the first set, but Rybakina changed her approach and won the next two sets.
The match lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
This was Rybakina’s first time reaching the US Open semifinals.
Her win also made her the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player.
She replaced Aryna Sabalenka, who had held the ranking for 99 weeks.
Rybakina had worried that an ankle injury might prevent her from playing well.
She said winning tournaments matters more to her than the ranking itself.
Her next goal is to keep winning matches and titles.
Elena Rybakina defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the US Open quarterfinals.
The victory secured Rybakina’s first US Open semifinal and the world No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina ended Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week run at the top of the rankings.
The second seed overcame concerns about her left ankle before competing in New York.
Rybakina has won four titles, 62 tour-level matches and 16 matches against Top-10 opponents since last year’s US Open.
- Who
- Elena Rybakina defeated Qinwen Zheng; Aryna Sabalenka was replaced as world No. 1.
- What
- Rybakina won a US Open quarterfinal and secured the top WTA ranking.
- Where
- Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York’s Flushing Meadows.
- When
- Wednesday during the 2026 US Open.
- Why
- The quarterfinal victory gave Rybakina enough ranking points to move ahead of Sabalenka.
Key facts
- Quarterfinal score
- Elena Rybakina defeated Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
- Match duration
- Two hours and 14 minutes.
- New ranking
- Rybakina became world No. 1.
- Previous No. 1
- Aryna Sabalenka had held the top ranking for 99 weeks.
- Semifinal milestone
- Rybakina reached her first US Open semifinal.
- Head-to-head record
- Rybakina leads Zheng 5-1.
- Season progress
- Since last year’s US Open, Rybakina has won 62 tour-level matches and four titles.
Quotes
Elena Rybakina
Tennis player who defeated Qinwen Zheng and became world No. 1
“The No. 1 ranking is, of course, one of the goals. But I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles, and then the ranking will follow up. We go match by match, but obviously, we want to win the titles, the tournaments. So that, I would say, is the main goal.”
livemint.com
“It was not ideal, and I was stressed, of course. The first days when I came onsite, when we had to test the foot and everything, so it wasn’t easy.”
livemint.com
Sources
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