Elena Rybakina ended Zheng Qinwen’s spirited US Open run with a three-set victory on Wednesday, ensuring she’ll rise to number one in the world for the first time.
The 27-year-old Kazakh star beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and booked a clash with former champion Coco Gauff for a place in the title match. Gauff, who won the first of her two major titles at Flushing Meadows in 2023, saved two match points in a 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 victory over Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the fifth-ranked reigning French Open champion from Russia.
“It’s just a number right now,” Rybakina said. “Elena is the new world number one,” Gauff said. “It’s a different achievement … but mostly you think about the titles in the end of the day. “It’s going to be a tough match. These are the moments you live for.”
“I just had to reset,” Gauff said. “I got lot of chances in the third set, but I didn’t took it,” Zheng said. Gauff struggled early, withstood two match points in the tie-break then rallied with some inspiration from Frances Tiafoe’s come-from-behind five-set victory over fellow American Alex Michelsen. “Honestly, I was thinking about Frances Tiafoe and how he came back. I was just trying to leave the court without regrets. “That was a bit pity for me to lose this match, but obviously I could take positive things from US Open this year. The winner of that match will face veteran Karen Khachanov for a place in Sunday’s final.
