ARYNA SABALENKA’s 99-week reign as the world no1 in women’s tennis is over after Elena Rybakina’s progression to the US Open semi-finals.
The Belarusian, 28, is training at Flushing Meadows today ahead of her own appearance in the last four of the tournament on Thursday, as she looks to claim a hat-trick of Championships on Saturday.
She knew that one of the few ways she would be replaced at the summit of the sport this fortnight, regardless of her own performance in the Big Apple, was if Rybakina managed to make it to the last four.
The way the permutations have worked, even if Sabalenka wins another New York Slam, the incumbent world No.1 will slip down the rankings in favour of the former Wimbledon champion.
But Rybakina, 27, did it the hard way, coming from a set down to knock out Chinese qualifier Qinwen Zheng 3-6 6-1 6-4 over two hours and 14 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Rybakina is not the most demonstrative character and barely raised a smile at the achievement, clenching a fist when she secured passage to the next stage where American Coco Gauff or Russian Mirra Andreeva await.
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Though she won the Australian Open in Melbourne, the Moscow-born ace has missed several tournaments down the years due to a combination of injuries and illness.
Tim Henman, the four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, said: “It’s a great effort, a great achievement.
“She fought back from losing that first set and in the pressure moments in the third, she was the one who was able to come out on top to finish it off.”
When the WTA rankings are refreshed on Monday, following the conclusion of the US Open, Rybakina will become No.1 player in the world for the first time in her career.
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And the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
She will be the first man or woman from Kazakhstan to reach the top of the rankings.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka – who plays Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals – had held the elite ranking since October 2024.
Rybakina said: “Becoming the WTA World No.1 is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a young girl, it means so much to me.
“I’m so proud of this moment. I want to thank my whole team for their support and being able to celebrate this achievement with me.”
In her own-court interview, she said: “It was a very difficult match, a lot of nerves, maybe not the highest level. I am glad I pushed through.
“It was an early match and in my head I was complaining a little bit about the sun, shadow, a lot of things. Definitely it was a battle inside me.
“But I am glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away and kept on fighting. Super happy to be in the semi-finals here.”