Rybakina to become world number one after US Open

Elena Rybakina has secured the world number one ranking in women's tennis after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the US Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The victory propels Rybakina into her first US Open semifinal and will see her officially ascend to the top of the WTA rankings when they update on Monday, September 14, ending Aryna Sabalenka's 99-week reign. Rybakina, the 27-year-old from Kazakhstan, overcame a slow start to defeat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. The match marked the first time Rybakina had dropped a set during the tournament, but she responded by winning eleven of the next fourteen games to secure her place in the final four. Zheng, who entered the tournament as a qualifier after an elbow injury had significantly impacted her ranking, had spent nearly 12 hours on court in the preceding rounds. Upon achieving the No. 1 ranking, Rybakina described the milestone as "just a number right now." She emphasized her focus on the upcoming matches and the goal of winning tournaments. "I feel like I just need to focus on my game and enjoy tomorrow," she stated.