The US Open
Rybakina USO win hands her world No. 1 status
Elena Rybakina converted on a late break of Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen to move to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 quarter-final win at the US open on Wednesday which sends the quiet Kazakh to the world No. 1 position.
The second seed will replace Aryna Sabalenka when the WTA list is updated on Monday, a day after the conclusion of the season’s final Grand Slam.
Zheng, a former world no. 4 who is coming back from elbow surgery, erased 0-5 deficits in her past two matches in defeats of Grand Slam winners Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.
The No. 121 had played more that 14 hours on court, with the quarter-final her eighth match after winning through qualifying rounds last month.
“It’s just a number right now. Of course I’m in the semis, so my goal is to win the tournaments I play. I go a match at a time. It’s an amazing achievement,” the 27-year-old winner said.
Olympic gold medalist and 2025 Australian Open runner-up Zheng handed Rybakina her first lost set of the tournament in the opening chapter,
The Asian won a 14-minutes concluding game, saving five break points and claiming the set on her fourth opportunity.
But Rybakina struck back and swept the second 6-1 to send it all into a deciding set. Her break of Zheng in the ninth game for 5-4 set the stage as she served out the win a game later on her opponent’s forehand error after two and a quarter hours.
Rybakina managed 20 winners but was only able to convert on three of her 13 break chances.
The Kazakh becomes the 30th woman to hold the top ranking and will be playing in her first New York semi-final after winning her 47th match of the season.
Her Open had been in doubt after withdrawing from a Cincinnati quarter-final with an ankle injury against Swiatek and not hitting a ball for days as it healed.
“It was a very difficult match, very stressful. Didn’t start my best and found a way in the end. Super happy,” Rybakina said.
“A lot of thoughts were going through the head in the beginning, but I’m glad that I managed to find a way.
She added that her No. 1 position is not yet feeling like a reality.
“I don’t think about it so much. It’s a great achievement, and I feel like you will appreciate and think about it even more when you finish your career.
“You still need to keep on going, You never know how long you’re going to stay.
“I want to win the titles still so all my thoughts are just for the next match.”
Zheng tried to put her loss aside and concentrate on the positives of her fightback to form after injury.
“Today I had lot of chance in the third set, but I didn’t take it.
“That was a bit pity for me to lost this match, but obviously I could take positive things from US Open this year.
“In the beginning of the year, I was totally out of tournament rhythm, and this tournament helps me to find myself little by little.
“There were some decisions in important moment I wasn’t doing right.
“It was also very physical match for me. She got a great serve, and I think I have to be really focused to return every single time.
“In general, I could take some positive things, and the rest I could go back and to do what I can do better.”
Main photo:- Elena Rybakina becomes WTA No.1 in New York – by WTATennis.com
Unlike the rowdy US Open in New York, the home of Tennis etiquette The All England Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, have no immediate plans to follow suit.
In an attempt to entice the TikTok generation to “come feel the atmosphere” and no doubt invest in expensive cocktails at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where it costs US$23 for the traditional Honey Deuce cocktail and the “new kid on the block” a “Moet Serve” in a “three tennis ball can” a snip at US$32 for just 3 1/2 ounces of bubbly.
For the 2026 tournament the US Open Management accredited 100 influencers, double the number of actual news photographers, who frequently disturbed players, and genuine tennis fans with their ringlights and rowdy behaviour during live play.
After several unacceptable disruptions at the US Open, Coco Gauff said that whilst it was important to welcome a “new demographic” to the sport but “I think, just, follow the etiquette of the sport. That’s all.”
Interestingly the US Tournament has been headed up since July 2026 by Craig Tiley, former CEO of the Australian Open which was criticised by many including Aussie player Jordan Thompson as the “wokest tournament ever” in 2024 following the introduction of freedom of movement for spectatorsat any time, rather than waiting until the regulation change of ends and also the addition of a public “Party Court” bar overlooking Court 6 with a roster of DJ’s pumping out loud music during live play.
However, Richard Atkinson, interim chief executive at the AELTC, told BBC Sport “Wimbledon does not offer accreditation to influencers and that is unlikely to change in the near future.
He also backed the traditional “self-policing” ethos at SW19, whereby fans respect the action.
He jokingly added that the Royal Marine commandos, who along with other serving members of the Army, Navy and Air Force provide security and spectator support during Wimbledon would like “nothing more than to sort out” disruptive social media influencers at the prestigious tournament”
Main photo:- “Influencers” influencing the action during Naomi Osaka match at US Open
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
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