‘It’s just a number right now.’ Rybakina speaks after becoming World No. 1

Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina has commented on reaching No. 1 in the WTA rankings after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinal. She admitted to experiencing intense pressure during the match but said she doesn’t want to attach much importance to her new status for now.

Rybakina beat the 2024 Olympic champion 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in three sets in 2 hours and 14 minutes. The victory allowed the 27-year-old tennis player to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time and secure the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings. She will officially top the rankings on Sept. 14, when they are updated, becoming the 30th world No. 1 in women’s tennis history.

After the match, Rybakina admitted it was difficult to find the words to describe what had happened.

«I don’t know, it’s tough to find words. It’s been a very difficult match, with of course, a lot of nerves. It’s been a battle inside me, I’m glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away, kept on fighting and I’m very happy to be in the semis here,» the U.S. Open press service cited Rybakina as saying.

The Kazakhstani lost the first set but gave her opponent only one game in the second. The crucial moment of the decisive set came at 3-4, when Rybakina saved a break point before rallying to win 6-4. Had Zheng converted the chance, she would have had the opportunity to serve for the match.

Despite the historic achievement, Rybakina highlighted that she isn’t going to focus on the rankings.

«It’s just a number right now [the No. 1 ranking]. My goal is to win any tournament I play. I’ll go one match at a time and it’s an amazing achievement,» Rybakina said.

She added that things in tennis can change very quickly, so her main priority is her own game.

Rybakina’s semifinal run means Aryna Sabalenka will lose the No. 1 ranking regardless of how she performs for the rest of the tournament. Sabalenka has held the top spot for 99 consecutive weeks.

Rybakina will face Coco Gauff in the semifinals, marking her first appearance in the final four at the U.S. Open.