Elena Rybakina has done what seemed inevitable for months, secured the world No. 1 ranking, but the 27-year-old Kazakh isn’t stopping to admire the view from the summit. Not when Coco Gauff, fresh from one of the most dramatic escapes in this year’s tournament, awaits in a semi-final that promises fireworks.
Rybakina dismantled Zheng Qinwen’s fairytale run 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday, guaranteeing her ascent to the top of the rankings regardless of what Aryna Sabalenka achieves in her semi-final against Jessica Pegula. It marks the end of the Belarusian’s reign and the beginning of a new era in women’s tennis.
“It’s just a number right now,” Rybakina said with characteristic understatement. “It’s a different achievement… but mostly you think about the titles in the end of the day.”
That pragmatism will serve her well against Gauff, who conjured a comeback worthy of Broadway on Arthur Ashe Stadium, saving two match points in a 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 thriller against Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.
History made as top four break through
Thursday night’s semi-finals between Sabalenka and third-seeded Pegula completes a historic achievement, the first time since 1975 at the US Open that the top four women have all reached the penultimate round. In an era defined by unpredictability and early upsets, this represents a restoration of order, a validation of the rankings, and a promise of quality tennis in the business end of the tournament.
The fifth-ranked Andreeva, the reigning French Open champion from Russia, pushed Gauff to the brink before the American’s grit and sheer refusal to surrender turned the match on its head.
Gauff channels Tiafoe’s fighting spirit
Struggling early and staring down the barrel of elimination in the second-set tiebreaker, Gauff found inspiration from an unlikely source, compatriot Frances Tiafoe’s come-from-behind five-set victory over Alex Michelsen earlier in the day.
“I just had to reset,” Gauff admitted. “Honestly, I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back. I was just trying to leave the court without regrets.”
That mental reset proved decisive. The 19-year-old clawed back from 7-9 in the tiebreaker, saving those two match points with fearless ball-striking, before dominating the deciding set. It was vintage Gauff – resilient, relentless, and utterly unwilling to go quietly.
The first Kazakh to reach the peak
Rybakina becomes the first player from Kazakhstan to reach world No. 1, adding another milestone to a career already decorated with Grand Slam silverware. She claimed Wimbledon four years ago and captured the Australian Open in January, making this potential US Open triumph her third major title.
“I feel like you will appreciate and think about it even more when you finish your career,” she said of the ranking. “Like now, you still need to keep on going.”
That relentless mentality was on full display against Zheng, particularly after dropping the opening set. The Olympic champion and former world No. 4, ranked 121st after missing eight months due to elbow surgery, had stormed through qualifying and won seven matches in New York. Her run included spectacular comeback victories over six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek and former Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
Zheng’s brave run ends in heartbreak
Zheng rocked Rybakina early, unleashing fierce serves and a variety of shots that effectively neutralised the Kazakh’s power game. But a slight dip in the second set allowed Rybakina to seize control, and the momentum shift proved fatal.
In a tightly contested third set, Zheng squandered a golden opportunity to break in the third game. Rybakina punished that miss immediately, breaking serve in the following game before rocketing to victory.
“I got lot of chances in the third set, but I didn’t took it,” Zheng lamented. “That was a bit pity for me to lose this match, but obviously I could take positive things from US Open this year.”
Positive indeed. From qualifying to quarter-finals, from ranking oblivion to giant-slaying, Zheng’s tournament will be remembered as one of the stories of the fortnight.
