Elena Rybakina staged a remarkable comeback in the 2026 US Open quarterfinals, overcoming Qinwen Zheng with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory. This triumph not only secured Rybakina’s spot in the US Open semifinals for the first time but also propelled her to the top of the WTA live rankings, ending Aryna Sabalenka‘s unprecedented 99-week reign as world No. 1.
Resilience and Precision Define Rybakina’s Quarterfinal Win
Zheng, returning to the professional circuit as a qualifier after undergoing elbow surgery, started the match strongly. Demonstrating aggressive baseline tactics, she took the opening set 6-3, putting pressure on Rybakina early on.
However, Rybakina responded emphatically in the second set, dominating the court and winning 6-1 in just 38 minutes. The momentum shifted decisively in her favor, setting up a tense final set.
In the decisive third set, a crucial double fault from Zheng proved costly. Capitalizing on the error, Rybakina maintained her composure to close out the match 6-4 and secure her place in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.