Elena Rybakina wins US Open quarterfinal, assumes WTA World No. 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina wins her US Open quarterfinal match against Qinwen Zheng. With the victory, she assumes WTA World No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career.
Elena Rybakina secured a US Open quarterfinal win against Qinwen Zheng on Wednesday, propelling her to assume the prestigious WTA World No. 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka. The 27-year-old Kazakhstani, who won the Australian Open in 2026, needed the semifinals to take the top spot for the first time in her career.
Rybakina, ranked 30th in WTA history, played through injury and pressure to reach this milestone. Despite being considered an underdog due to her foot issue, she demonstrated resilience and an exceptional serve.
Sabalenka, who held the No. 1 ranking for over 100 weeks, including 99 consecutive weeks, has continued to focus on her US Open campaign, brushing off ranking concerns. The four-way battle for the top spot now appears temporarily resolved, with Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula as her remaining rivals.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
