Overview
- Elena Rybakina beat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the US Open semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium after a two-hour, 14-minute match.
- By reaching the last four Rybakina secured the points she needed to be listed as WTA world No. 1 when the rankings update on Monday, Sept. 14.
- Rybakina will face Coco Gauff in the semi-final while Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula meet in the other semi-final.
- Zheng’s run from qualifying after elbow surgery ended in the quarterfinals but will lift her back toward the top 60 in the WTA rankings.
- Rybakina, who has two major titles, arrived in New York managing a recent ankle/heel issue and said she is focused on winning the tournament rather than the ranking.