RYBAKINA MAKES HISTORY AS KAZAKHSTAN’S FIRST WORLD NO. 1

Elena Rybakina has achieved a major milestone in her career after securing the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. The Kazakhstan representative reached the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday by defeating China’s Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals, ensuring she will move to the top of the WTA rankings when the latest rankings are released.

Rybakina had to recover from a difficult opening set against Zheng before taking control of the contest. The 27-year-old raised her level in the second set and continued to put pressure on her opponent in the decider, eventually completing the comeback after two hours and 14 minutes. The victory also secured her first appearance in the US Open semi-finals.

Her rise to the summit ends Aryna Sabalenka’s lengthy spell as the world’s top-ranked women’s player. Sabalenka had occupied the No. 1 position for 99 consecutive weeks and 107 weeks overall, but Rybakina’s run at Flushing Meadows has now taken her past the Belarusian star. Rybakina becomes the 30th woman to reach the top of the WTA singles rankings.

The achievement is also historic for Kazakhstan, with Rybakina becoming the first player representing the country to reach the No. 1 position. Born in Russia, she switched her sporting allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 and has since become the country’s biggest tennis star, winning Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year.

Rybakina will now face 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in the semi-finals after the American recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Mirra Andreeva. The match will give Rybakina an opportunity to strengthen her claim as the leading player in women’s tennis while continuing her bid for a third Grand Slam title.