Elena Rybakina becomes world No. 1 for first time after U.S. Open win over Zheng Qinwen

Elena Rybakina became the world No. 1 women's tennis player for the first time on Wednesday after defeating China's Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, dethroning Aryna Sabalenka. The 27-year-old, born in Moscow but representing Kazakhstan, becomes the first Kazakhstani tennis player to reach the top of the world rankings. Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this season for her second Grand Slam title, also leads the WTA tour with 47 wins in 2024, second only to Jessica Pegula's 50.