Elena Rybakina fought back from a set down on Wednesday to beat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the 2026 US Open quarterfinals. The win moved her to the top of the WTA live rankings, ending Aryna Sabalenka's 99-week hold on the No. 1 spot.
Elena Rybakina Fights Back Against Qinwen Zheng in Tight Quarterfinal
Zheng, who returned to the tour this year as a qualifier after elbow surgery, took the first set with some aggressive baseline play. However, Rybakina answered by running away with the second in just 38 minutes.
Then, after a costly double fault by the Chinese international in the third, Rybakina closed the door on a tight decider to reach her first US Open semifinal.
It was the third time this season Rybakina came back from a set down against Zheng, adding to earlier wins in Doha and Madrid. Her head-to-head advantage now stands at 5-1.
"It was definitely a battle inside me," Rybakina said. "But I'm glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away."
Rybakina's Win Shuffles the WTA Live Rankings
Still, Rybakina waved off talk of her new ranking, calling it "just a number."
Instead, her focus is on grabbing another Grand Slam title to wrap up the year. Up next, she faces No. 4 Coco Gauff for a spot in the final.
