Elena Rybakina Advances to US Open Semifinals and World Number One Ranking

Elena Rybakina didn’t just survive a scare on Arthur Ashe Stadium. She walked off with a US Open semi-final place and the world number one ranking in her pocket.

The 27-year-old Kazakh fought back from a set down to beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes on Wednesday, guaranteeing she will replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings next week. The win also made her the first player from Kazakhstan ever to reach world number one, and the 30th woman to hold the top spot.

For Rybakina, the milestone could wait.

"It's just a number right now," she said on court. "Of course I'm in the semis. It's an amazing achievement, but during the match I feel like I just need to focus on my game."

A slow start, a sharp reset

This was no procession. Zheng, ranked 121 after a long layoff for elbow surgery, arrived in New York through qualifying and had already won seven matches. She played like it early, too.

The Chinese star grabbed the first break chances in the eighth game of the opening set and cashed in when Rybakina pushed a forehand into the net for 5-3. What followed was one of the key games of the night: a 14-minute arm wrestle in which Zheng saved five break points, uncorking an ace, a backhand down the line and a service winner, while Rybakina’s backhand returns repeatedly flew long or wide. On her fourth set point, Zheng drew another forehand error on the return and pocketed the set.

"It was very tough. I didn't start my best," Rybakina admitted. "I was struggling a little bit. We got into long rallies and I made mistakes. I was trying to be more aggressive because I feel like I wasn't pushing enough."

She had reasons. The second seed had been 0-6 at the US Open when losing the first set. Day conditions were new as well after a run of night matches.

"It has been an early match. In my head I was complaining about the shadow," she said. "I'm glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away. I just kept telling myself: 'Keep fighting.'

The response was ruthless.

Rybakina opened the second set with back-to-back aces and a hold, then broke Zheng with a forehand winner for 2-0. When Zheng threatened a pushback, Rybakina swatted it away, saving a break point with another forehand strike and stretching to 4-1. She broke again, once more finishing with a forehand winner for 5-1, and served out the set with authority. The match had flipped.

Fine margins in the decider

The third set tightened again. Zheng, who will jump into the top 60 after her run, refused to fade. She saved a break point in the fifth game, digging in behind her first serve. Rybakina had to answer in kind in the eighth game, fending off a break point of her own to hold for 4-4.

The tension snapped in the ninth game. Serving under pressure, Zheng double-faulted to hand over the decisive break. Rybakina, who has shown no sign of the foot injury that troubled her US Open build-up, did not hesitate. She served out the match to seal a fifth win in six meetings with Zheng and a third victory over her this season.

Zheng left with regrets, but also with perspective.

"Maybe when she serve second serve, I could be more aggressive sometimes and make a bit less mistake in the return," she said. "Today is just few points makes the difference.

"I got a lot of chances in the third set, but I didn't take them. That was a bit pity for me to lose this match, but obviously I can take positive things from the US Open this year."

For Rybakina, the positives are obvious. She is into the last four in New York for the first time, chasing a third Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year. She will face the winner of the quarter-final between Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva on Thursday.

She arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of four women with a shot at leaving as world number one. Her victory ended the hopes of Sabalenka, Gauff and Jessica Pegula, who will meet in the other semi-final.

"It's something for which you're going to be very proud when you finish at the end of the year," Rybakina said of the ranking. "No matter how long you're going to stay it's an achievement and I feel very proud."

The number next to her name will change on Monday. The question now is whether she leaves New York with more than just a ranking to celebrate.