New york: Elena Rybakina secured the world No. 1 ranking after defeating Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the US Open semifinals.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Kazakh player overturned a set deficit against the Chinese Olympic champion to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows in New York for the first time. Rybakina, who entered the tournament ranked No. 2 behind Aryna Sabalenka, earned enough ranking points with the victory to overtake the Belarusian and reach world No. 1 for the first time.

Zheng took the opening set 6-3, handing Rybakina her first set loss of the tournament. The 2026 Australian Open champion responded by winning the second set 6-1 and edged the third 6-4. Rybakina had entered the quarterfinals in strong form, winning her first four matches without dropping a set, including a 6-1, 6-4 victory against former champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.

For Zheng, the quarterfinal appearance marked a significant achievement. The 23-year-old Olympic champion came through qualifying before reaching the last eight, including comeback victories against Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.

Rybakina will face American fourth seed Coco Gauff, who also came back from a set down and saved two match points in the second-set tiebreak to defeat Mirra Andreeva 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 in another quarterfinal match. Gauff struggled in the opening set, making 14 unforced errors as fifth seed Andreeva led 6-2. However, the American found her rhythm in the second set, saving two match points and taking the tiebreak 9-7 after a 39-shot rally.

Gauff carried the momentum into the deciding set, breaking Andreeva twice. The American closed out the match 6-2, celebrating with the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. The victory sends Gauff into the US Open semifinals for the second time, three years after her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2023.