Elena Rybakina has ascended to the top of the women's world rankings, ending Aryna Sabalenka's 99-week reign. Rybakina confirmed her new status by winning her US Open quarter-final match against China's Zheng Qinwen.
Despite dropping a set for the first time in the tournament, Rybakina battled back to secure a 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory. This achievement marks her as the first Kazakhstani player to reach the world number one spot in singles.
Rybakina will now face either Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva in Thursday's semi-finals, while Sabalenka is set to play Jessica Pegula. The top two players could potentially meet in the US Open final, mirroring their clash at this year's Australian Open where Rybakina emerged victorious.
The 27-year-old stated that the trophy is more important than her new ranking, commenting, "It's just a number right now. My goal is to win the tournaments which I play."