US Open: Elena Rybakina ends Qinwen Zheng's run, becomes new women's No. 1 with win in quarterfinal

There was a lot at stake for Elena Rybakina during her quarterfinal match against Qinwen Zheng on Wednesday. With a victory, Rybakina would not only move a step closer to winning her first US Open, she would also assume the title of the No. 1 ranked women's player in the sport.

Well, move over Aryna Sabalenka, because you've been dethroned. Rybakina advanced Wednesday, beating Zheng in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 6-4) to keep her US Open title hopes alive and become the top-ranked women's player in the world.

Sabalenka had previously held the No. 1 rank for the past 99 weeks. But some earlier-than-expected exits, combined with improved play from Rybakina, put that position in limbo heading into Wednesday. All Rybakina needed was a win over Zheng to take the top spot. It was a hard-fought match, but Rybakina did it.

It marks the first time in her career Rybakina has been ranked No. 1.

It also marks the furthest Rybakina has ever advanced at the US Open. Her previous high came last year, when she reached the fourth round of the event before falling.

Typically, the US Open has proven to be Rybakina's most difficult Grand Slam. Entering play Wednesday, she had won just 57 percent of her matches at the event.

The win not only solidifies Rybakina's status as the top woman in the sport right now but sets her up to potentially capture her third Grand Slam win. Rybakina has already won Wimbledon and the Australian Open. A win at the US Open would leave the French Open as the only Grand Slam she's yet to conquer.

Getting there won't be easy. After narrowly defeating Zheng on Wednesday, Rybakina is guaranteed to take on some of the highest ranked women the rest of the way, as many of the favorites on the women's side advanced to the quarterfinals.

As her new No. 1 ranking suggests, Rybakina should be up for any challenge at this point … even if she manages to trail early.

Qinwen Zheng outlasts Elena Rybakina in first set

That's exactly what happened Wednesday, as Rybakina and Zheng got off to an exciting start, trading the first seven games in the first set. In Game 8, Zheng finally broke Rybakina to take a 5-3 lead. Rybakina nearly did the same in the ninth game, taking three of the first four points in the game. But Zheng battled back, with the game eventually getting the deuce.

From there, Rybakina and Zheng reached an advantage a combined seven times before Zheng was finally able to close out the game. In doing so, she took the first set 6-3.

Both players appeared to be trying hard for aces in the first set, as neither managed a first serve percentage above 50. Zheng was more successful on that front, notching four aces against Rybakina's one in the set.

Elena Rybakina hits her stride in second set

It was a much different story in the second set. Rybakina got a better handle on her serve, while Zheng often failed to put her first attempt in play. During the set, Rybakina was successful on 58 percent of her first-serve attempts. Zheng clocked in at 38 percent. While it wasn't a flawless game from Rybakina — who had more unforced errors and two double faults — it didn't look that way on paper.

Rybakina cruised to a 6-1 win in the second set, breaking Zheng twice to pick up the victory and send the match to a third set.

After a tense final set, Rybakina pulls out the win

Both players locked in during the final set. With both consistently getting their first-serve attempts in, Rybakina and Zheng traded the first eight games in the set.

It wasn't until the ninth game that Rybakina finally broke Zheng. That set up a 10th game in which Rybakina would serve with the match potentially on the line.

She got the job done, finally dispatching Zheng — who has proven to be a thorn in the side of many higher-ranked opponents at the event — and moving to the semifinals.

Even with the loss, Zheng proved she's nearly back to form after battling injuries early in 2026. After first-round exits at both the French Open and Wimbledon, Zheng showed the form that allowed her to take gold at the 2024 Olympics. If she can retain that, Zheng should shoot back up the rankings after injuries resulted in her fall.

For Rybakina, she can keep her eyes on the prize. There's no better way to follow up her coronation than to go out and win a Grand Slam. If she can do that, she'll leave no doubt she deserves to be No. 1.