The WTA has a new queen

Elena Rybakina has had a dream afternoon at the US Open 2026. The Kazakh tennis player defeated Qinwen Zheng with a score of 3-6, 6-1, and 6-4 after 2 hours and 13 minutes of play, allowing her to reach the semifinals and fulfill her dream of becoming number 1 in the WTA ranking at the expense of Aryna Sabalenka.

Both Rybakina and Zheng starred in a match with constant twists and turns. When one was at her best, the other dropped her level, and vice versa; until the third set, where both were influenced by the tension of the moment and everything that a victory meant for the Kazakh. Elena was firmer at the most important moment, and in this way, she becomes number 1 in the world for the first time in her career in a dream season. Her next goal will be to lift the title at this US Open, which would place her with 2 Grand Slams in 2026 and leave her one title away - Roland Garros - from the Career Grand Slam.

Zheng takes the first set by details

The first set showed both players very solid on serve, being aggressive and not giving their opponent options on return. Rybakina lost only 3 points on her serve in her first 3 games, but at 4-3, Zheng raised her level, applied pressure, and the Kazakh made more errors than usual, resulting in a break that put the Chinese player ahead 5-3 with serve. 

When closing the first set, Zheng faced an extremely combative Rybakina who tried by all means to break back. A marathon game where Elena had five break points. However, it was Qinwen who converted her fourth set point to seal the 6-3 and take the lead on the scoreboard, putting Elena on the ropes in her quest to become number 1.

Rybakina responds in a big way

Rybakina's response was quick, and at the start of the second set she stepped up to take a 3-0 lead after breaking Zheng's serve in her first game on return. The match lacked long points, but winners were plenty. At 3-1, Qinwen had a break point that could have returned equality to the set, but Elena held her ground and saved the situation, which affected the Chinese athlete too much and became a burden for the rest of the set.

In fact, Zheng would not win a single game in the entire set, losing 6-1 and showing a completely different version from the first set, also influenced by the strong play of Rybakina, who had shifted into high gear towards the most important victory of her career for all it entailed.

Rybakina takes the number 1 from Sabalenka

In the third set, both went all out, and the tension was palpable. The first critical moment came at 2-2 with Zheng serving, who had to face a break point, but again she shone bright to prevent further trouble. The match was increasingly approaching the critical zone, where one mistake can be decisive and devastating, and at 4-3 for Qinwen it was Rybakina who felt the pressure on her serve.

Two unforced errors from the Kazakh and an incredible parallel backhand from the Chinese player brought a 30-40 situation in her favor. Elena was brave, came to the net, and Zheng's passing shot went long. 4-4, and everything was still to be decided. At that moment, Rybakina lightened her load and began to push the Asian player off the court. She squandered a 0-40 lead largely due to her opponent's merit, but a double fault from Qinwen allowed her to take a 5-4 lead with serve. The Kazakh did not falter, eliminated Zheng, dethroned Sabalenka and reached the semifinals where she awaits the winner of the match between Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La WTA tiene nueva reina