San Francisco Frontiers - Rybakina ensures rise to No.1 by reaching US Open semis

The 27-year-old Kazakh star rallied to defeat China's Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after two hours and 14 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ensuring she will replace Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus atop next week's rankings.

"It's just a number right now," Rybakina said after the match. "Of course I'm in the semis. It's an amazing achievement (but) during the match I feel like I just need to focus on my game."

Rybakina advanced to a Thursday semi-final against the later winner between fourth-ranked American Coco Gauff, twice a major champion, and Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the fifth-ranked reigning French Open champion from Russia.

In becoming the first Kazakh player to reach number one, Rybakina becomes the 30th woman to reach the world number one spot.

"It's something for which you're going to be very proud when you finish at the end of the year," Rybakina said. "No matter how long you're going to stay it's an achievement and I feel very proud."

Rybakina, who had been 0-6 in prior US Open matches after dropping the first set, seeks her third Grand Slam title after winning at Wimbledon in 2022 and at this year's Australian Open.

"It's tough to find words. It was a difficult match... I didn't start that well, I was too much negative," said Rybakina, who had played all of her prior matches at night.

"It has been an early match. In my head I was complaining about the shadow ... I'm glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away. I just kept telling myself: 'Keep fighting'."

Rybakina, the second seed, was among four women with a chance to leave Flushing Meadows as world number one, but her victory ended the top spot hopes of Sabalenka, Gauff and third-ranked American Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka and Pegula will meet in Thursday's other semi-final.

- 'Positive things' -

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.

"Maybe when she serve second serve, I could be more aggressive sometimes and make a bit less mistake in the return," Zheng said. "Today is just few points makes the difference."

Rybakina, who has shown no sign of the foot injury that hindered her US Open preparations, improved to 5-1 all-time over Zheng with her third triumph of the year.

Zheng, ranked 121 after missing about eight months due to elbow surgery, went through qualifying and won seven matches in New York, ensuring her a top-60 ranking next week.

"I got a lot of chances in the third set, but I didn't take them," Zheng said. "That was a bit pity for me to lose this match, but obviously I can take positive things from the US Open this year."

Zheng grabbed the first break chances of the match in the eighth game and seized a 5-3 lead when Rybakina netted a forehand.

The ninth game was a 14-minute fight with Zheng saving five break points, firing an ace, backhand winner down the line and service winner then taking the others on errant Rybakina backhand service returns.

Zheng capitalized on her fourth set point when Rybakina sent a forehand service return long.

"It was very tough. I didn't start my best," Rybakina said. "I was struggling a little bit. We got into long rallies and I made mistakes. I was trying to be more aggressive because I feel like I wasn't pushing enough."

Rybakina began the second set with back-to-back aces and held, then broke Zheng on a forehand winner for a 2-0 lead and saved a break point on a forehand winner in holding to a 4-1 advantage.

Rybakina broke with a forehand winner to seize a 5-1 lead and held to force a third set.

In the decider, Zheng saved a break point in the fifth game and Rybakina saved one in the eighth game as both players held to 4-4.

Zheng surrendered a break with a double fault in the ninth game and Rybakina held for the victory.

Z.Sanchez--SFF