Elena Rybakina didn't just win her quarter-final match at the US Open on Wednesday; she secured her destiny. By defeating China's Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, the 27-year-old Kazakh star guaranteed herself the world No. 1 ranking, ending Aryna Sabalenka's run at the top. This means even if Sabalenka goes on to win the entire tournament for a third consecutive time, Rybakina will still be the top player in the world. Rybakina, who already has two Grand Slam titles to her name — the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon four years ago — seemed unfazed by the ranking milestone. "It's just a number right now," she stated, adding that her focus remains on winning titles. Yet, she acknowledged the significance of the achievement, noting that its true appreciation might come after her career is over.
Her next challenge is a semi-final clash against American Coco Gauff. Gauff, the fifth-ranked player and reigning French Open champion, had a nail-biting victory herself, saving two match points in her quarter-final against 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva from Russia. Gauff scraped through with a 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 win after a tough second-set tiebreaker. She admitted that the thought of Frances Tiafoe's earlier comeback victory at the tournament inspired her to fight until the end.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the other semi-final. This marks a significant moment in US Open history: it's the first time since 1975 that the top four women in the rankings have all reached the semi-final stage of the tournament. It's a real testament to the dominance of these top players.
On the men's side, top seed Alexander Zverev powered his way into the semi-finals, dispatching Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands with a commanding 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory. Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, will now play against veteran Karen Khachanov for a spot in Sunday's final. Khachanov advanced after his opponent, Alexander Blockx, a young Belgian player, retired due to injury while Khachanov was leading 6-2, 7-5, 3-2. Blockx, who had already battled through injury in previous rounds, cited his body giving up due to the intense physicality of Grand Slam tournaments.
Zheng Qinwen's journey to the quarter-finals was nothing short of remarkable. Ranked 121 in the world and having missed nearly eight months due to elbow surgery, she had to go through qualifying. Along the way, she pulled off stunning upsets, including wins against former world number one Iga Swiatek and ex-Australian Open champion Madison Keys. She started strong against Rybakina, but a slight dip in her game allowed Rybakina to take control, ultimately sealing the win in the third set. "I got lot of chances in the third set, but I didn't took it," Zheng reflected, acknowledging the missed opportunities but taking positives from her US Open performance.
Rybakina's rise to world No. 1 makes her the first player from Kazakhstan to achieve this feat. Her consistency over the past few years, with Grand Slam wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, has firmly established her as one of the sport's elite. The journey to the top is gruelling, and Rybakina's focus on the next match, rather than past achievements, shows a professional dedication that has clearly paid off.