Elena Rybakina reaches US Open semifinal to take world number one from Aryna Sabalenka

Posted Thu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:18amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:18amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:18am, updated Thu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:23amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:23amThu 10 Sep 2026 at 7:23am

In short:

Elena Rybakina has beaten Qinwen Zheng to reach the semifinals of the US Open, taking over as world number one for the first time.

Rybakina beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final four in New York, where she had previously never made it past the fourth round.

What’s next?

Rybakina next plays Coco Gauff, with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and third seed Jessica Pegula in the other semi.

Elena Rybakina ensured she will leave Flushing Meadows as the new world number one after a comprehensive win over Qinwen Zheng, despite top seed Aryna Sabalenka still being alive in her quest for a third straight US Open title.

Rybakina reached the semifinals for the first time and will face 2023 champion Coco Gauff, who beat fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(9/7), 6-2.

The early program kicked off barely eight hours after Ben Shelton ‌beat Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that finished at 3:33 am, breaking the record for the latest ever finish at the US Open.

Zheng had cultivated a ‌reputation as one of the tournament’s finest comeback artists but ran ⁠out of gas against Rybakina, losing 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 as ‌the Kazakh chipped away at her defences after ‌overcoming early mistakes.

“It’s tough to find words,” said Rybakina, who dethroned Sabalenka at the top of the rankings.

“It wasn’t maybe the highest level, but I’m glad I pushed through.”

Meanwhile, Gauff fought off a match point in the second-set tiebreak to move into the last four of her home slam for just the second time.

Sabalenka and American third seed Jessica Pegula are in the other semifinal.

Pegula is the only woman left without a grand slam title to her name, while Sabalenka is trying to win the US Open to avoid going major-less for the first time since 2022.

If Rybakina and Sabalenka progress, it will mark their second meeting in a major final this year, after Rybakina won the Australian Open title in January.

Reuters/ABC