Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, celebrates winning against Qinwen Zheng, of China. (AP Photo)
Rybakina put out qualifier Qinwen Zheng of China in the US Open quarterfinals, rallying from a set down to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and reach the semi-finals in New York for the first time. 1 ranking. But before she takes over as the WTA world No.1 on Monday, the on-court announcement of which brought a flicker of a smile to her face, Rybakina must first negotiate Thursday’s US Open semi-final. The first of the last-four clashes will see current world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka take on American Jessica Pegula, the world No.3. In the second, Rybakina will face American Coco Gauff, the fourth seed, who fought off two match points against the mercurial Russian teen Mirra Andreeva before coming through 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2 despite 12 double faults. 1 does not eclipse her Grand Slam ambitions. With two Grand Slam titles already to her name, the 27-year-old is chasing a third in New York. 1, like the weight of her Grand Slam victories, may only fully sink in later.
“If you’re going for titles more, the ranking, it might follow up,” she said. If not, of course I will have other chances,” she said. “I feel like every time, all the results, all the achievements, you really appreciate and you can reflect only a little bit later, not in the moment when everything is happening.”
NEW YORK CITY: Elena Rybakina gives little away on the court. No visible emotion, barely a trace of a reaction. When a match gets tight, there is a small tell, she reaches up and runs a hand through her hair more often than she does normally. It is not that she doesn’t feel the heat. She just doesn’t let you see it. There was more to come. With the victory, the lanky Kazakh also sealed the world No. For Rybakina, however, becoming No. She sees the two not necessarily as different achievements, with rankings often following results. “I try my best to win here. And she believes the significance of becoming No.
In the new list on Monday, Rybakina will climb to the pinnacle of the sport for the first time, becoming the first player from Kazakhstan to do so.
1 will resonate far beyond her own career. “My choice of turning professional was at 17 years old, and this is when I believed that I can do well.
The Moscow-born pro said she was “very proud representing Kazakhstan” and can already see the impact of her success in the country. Now they play tennis, and more and more are coming to the tennis facilities,” she said. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines She admitted she had yet to check her phone and see the reaction to her achievement, but said she was looking forward to returning home. “I think it’s an amazing achievement for the country, definitely,” she said. “When I was a kid, I never thought that I’m going to be professional or even playing these kind of tournaments on the biggest stages,” she said.
Rybakina knows becoming the first Kazakh player to reach No. “Every time I come back to Kazakhstan, no matter which city I go, it’s always so many kids. “It’s just amazing how many young people are looking up to you, and it just proves that everything is possible if you believe, if you work hard. For all that she has changed, Rybakina still remembers the girl who never imagined she would get this far. Of course, I didn’t know how far I can come. But yeah, as a kid, I was just enjoying playing tennis after school, hanging out with the friends. It was just for fun. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.