Hey, just so you know, some of the links on this site are affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you buy something through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps me keep this site running. Thanks for your support!
Elena Rybakina will leave the 2026 US Open as the new world No. 1. The No. 2 seed rallied from a set down to defeat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on September 9, securing both a semifinal berth and the top ranking.
The official US Open confirmed that Rybakina will become the 30th WTA world No. 1 when the rankings update on September 14.
Rybakina Recovered After a Difficult Opening Set
Zheng took the first set 6-3 and repeatedly pressured Rybakina with aggressive returning and baseline depth. Rybakina responded decisively in the second set. Her serve steadied, her first-strike tennis became more effective and she dictated more of the short exchanges on the hard court.
The 6-1 second set changed the shape of the match and pushed the quarterfinal into a deciding set.
The Deciding Set
The third set was tighter, but Rybakina stayed composed through the most important stretch. With the match level deep in the set, she created the decisive break and then closed out the victory 6-4.
The performance reflected the consistency that carried her into the No. 1 position. The US Open noted that she entered the match as the reigning WTA Finals champion and reigning Australian Open champion, with another strong season across the major and WTA calendar.
Why the No. 1 Ranking Matters
Rankings are built over an entire season, not one match. Clinching No. 1 at a Grand Slam quarterfinal therefore represents a larger body of work: sustained results, deep tournament runs and enough points accumulated across the calendar to move ahead of the rest of the field.
For Rybakina, the milestone arrives while she is still chasing the US Open title itself. She advances to face Coco Gauff in the semifinals, setting up a contrast between Rybakina’s serving power and Gauff’s elite court coverage and defense.
What Comes Next
The semifinal will determine whether Rybakina can pair her ranking breakthrough with her deepest US Open run yet. The pressure changes now: the No. 1 ranking is secured, but the championship remains unresolved.
Image note: featured image is generic tennis imagery and does not depict this match. Source verification: official 2026 US Open reporting.