Elena Rybakina ended Zheng Qinwen’s spirited US Open run with a three-set victory on Wednesday, ensuring she’ll rise to number one in the world for the first time. Men’s top seed Alexander Zverev was also gunning for a semi-final spot on Wednesday, taking on Dutch veteran Botic van de Zandschulp. World number two Rybakina was assured of ending Aryna Sabalenka’s reign at number one just by reaching the semis — even if Sabalenka wins a third straight title.
The 27-year-old Kazakh star beat Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and booked a clash with former champion Coco Gauff for a place in the title match.
Gauff struggled early, withstood two match points in the tie-break then rallied with some inspiration from Frances Tiafoe’s come-from-behind five-set victory over fellow American Alex Michelsen. He booked his semi-final berth with a five-set win over Arthur Gea, saving a match point against the Frenchman. The winner of that match will face veteran Karen Khachanov for a place in Sunday’s final.
Zheng, a former world number four ranked 121 after missing about eight months due to elbow surgery, went through qualifying and won seven matches in New York, including comeback wins over six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and former Australian Open winner Madison Keys. Gauff, who won the first of her two major titles at Flushing Meadows in 2023, saved two match points in a 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 victory over Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the fifth-ranked reigning French Open champion from Russia. Reigning Olympic champion Zheng, 23, missed out on her first US Open semi-final. She lost at the 2024 Australian Open in her only Grand Slam final appearance. Khachanov advanced when Belgian Alexander Blockx retired from their quarter-final with the Russian leading 6-2, 7-5, 3-2.
