Elena Rybakina is the new world number one after reaching the semi-finals of the US Open with victory over Qinwen Zheng.
The Australian Open champion overcame a severe test from the Olympic champion to reach the semi-finals.
It also means that Rybakina is the first player from Kazakhstan to become a world number one in tennis as she achieved the feat for the first time in her career.
The second seed came out firing in the early stages but would face challenges in the opening set against Zheng.
There was some good tennis being produced by Zheng as she produced some stunning forehand winners to take the match to Rybakina.
Eventually some missed first serves from Rybakina allowed Zheng to be aggressive on the return game and she broke for a 5-3 lead.
There would be chances for Rybakina in a marathon 15 minute return game with Zheng struggling to put Zheng away.
However, the former Australian Open finalist would eventually seal the opening set as she produced clean and precise tennis.
In the second set Rybakina produced a strong response playing some effective and aggressive tennis as she took the set 6-1.
Another quarter-final and another three set contest as Rybakina had her sights set on the semi-finals.
In the final set both players had opportunities with Rybakina missing a simple return on break point in the fifth game.
Frustration hit for Zheng as she missed a simple shot on break point in the eighth game as Rybakina endured a testing game.
That would be the crucial blow as Rybakina broke in the following game before comfortably closing out the match.
It means that not only is Rybakina into the US Open semi-finals but she has become the new world number one.
The Australian Open champion is the first player from her country to achieve the feat and spoke about how it feels to achieve the feat, “Becoming the WTA World No.1 is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a young girl, it means so much to me,” Rybakina told the WTA.
“I’m so proud of this moment. I want to thank my whole team for their support and being able to celebrate this achievement with me.”
Rybakina will play her first match as world number one when she plays Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva in the US Open semi-finals.
