Aryna Sabalenka will no longer be world number one from next week
Kazakh tennis player Elena Rybakina, after defeating Chinese player Zheng Qinwen in the US Open-2026 quarter-final with a score of 3:6, 6:1, 6:4, has secured the world number one spot in the global ranking for the first time in her career.
Aryna Sabalenka. Photo: Robert Prange / Getty Images
Rybakina's further result at the US Open will no longer affect her future status as world number one.
In the semi-final, Rybakina will meet either American Coco Gauff or Russian Mirra Andreeva. As for Sabalenka's opponent, who is also still in contention, it will be American Jessica Pegula.
Aryna Sabalenka was the world number one for 99 weeks.