Today's Edition
New York (AFP)
Elena Rybakina ended Zheng Qinwen's spirited US Open run on Wednesday, guaranteeing her rise to world No.1 as she booked a semi-final showdown with Coco Gauff.
Rybakina beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and is assured of ending Aryna Sabalenka's reign atop the standings – even if the Belarusian wins a third straight title.
And yet, the 27 year old resident of Dubai remained her usual self as a picture of composure. “It's just a number right now," Rybakina said. "It's a different achievement ... but mostly you think about the titles in the end of the day."
The 2024 Mubadala Abu Dhabi WTA Open champion is known as the “Ice Woman” because of her calm composure. She had also expressed her plain feelings about becoming the top-ranked player last year at a media interaction on the sidelines of the Dubai Tennis Open when she had reached the No.3 perch.
"I have big goals,” said Rybakina. “Of course time will show, but definitely we will keep on working. I have a very aggressive style of game, so I think that's definitely the key.”
She will now shift her focus to Gauff at Flushing Meadows, where Gauff saved two match points in a 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory over Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the fifth-ranked reigning French Open champion from Russia.
Sabalenka was due to play third seed Jessica Pegula in the other semi-final – the first time since 1975 at the US Open that the top four women all made it to the penultimate round.
Rybakina, the first Kazakh player to reach number one, is chasing a third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open in January – four years after winning Wimbledon.
"I feel like you will appreciate and think about it even more when you finish your career," she said of the ranking. "Like now, you still need to keep on going.”
