After 99 weeks, Elena Rybakina replaces Aryna Sabalenka as women's world number one. Rybakina secured the ranking with her US Open quarter-final victory over Zheng Qinwen. Despite losing a set for the first time in the tournament, Rybakina fought back and saved a break point in the deciding set to complete a 3-6 6-1 6-4 win.

She is the first Kazakhstani player to reach the top of the singles standings. Rybakina has been in hot pursuit of Sabalenka this season. The top two players could yet meet in the US Open final, just as they did at the Australian Open, where Rybakina prevailed in three sets.

For Rybakina, the trophy is more important than her new ranking. She will face either Coco Gauff in Thursday's semi-finals, while Sabalenka takes on Jessica Pegula. Rybakina's rise to world number one has coincided with one of the most consistent periods of her career.

Despite managing an ankle injury, Rybakina has backed up a 78-match 2025 season by playing 60 times so far this year. She has won 47 of those matches, a tally bettered only by American world number three Pegula (50) on the WTA Tour. Only Pegula can match her tally of 34 wins on hard courts this season.

Rybakina's biggest weapon is her powerful serve. She has recorded the most aces on the WTA Tour this year, with her total standing at 394 in 2026. Her serve was at its best against Naomi Osaka, where she won 87% of her first-serve points and fired seven aces among her 29 winners.