Rybakina claims top ranking, Gauff fights back to reach semis

NEW YORK, Sept 9 : Elena Rybakina ensured she will leave Flushing Meadows as the new world number one with a comprehensive win over Zheng Qinwen in the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, while 2023 champion Coco Gauff came back from a poor start to meet her in the semi-final.

The second-seeded Rybakina and fourth-seeded Gauff joined top seed Aryna Sabalenka and number three Jessica Pegula in going through - the first time all four top-seeded women have reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009.

The early programme kicked off barely eight hours after Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that finished at 3:33 a.m., breaking the record for the latest ever finish at the U.S. Open.

Zheng had cultivated a reputation as one of the tournament's finest comeback artists but ran out of gas against Rybakina, losing 3-6 6-1 6-4 as the Kazakh chipped away at her defences after overcoming early mistakes.

"It's tough to find words," said Rybakina, who dethroned Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings. "It wasn't maybe the highest level but I'm glad I pushed through."

U.S. fan favourite Gauff got off to a dreadful start before recovering to beat Russian fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2.

Gauff improved her level dramatically across the match, drawing on the inspiration of her compatriot Frances Tiafoe's recovery from two sets down the previous evening, as she saved two match points in the tiebreak.

"Elena - she's the new world number one so it's going to be a tough match," said Gauff. "I'm looking forward to the battle. These are the moments you live for."

After the gruelling Alcaraz-Shelton affair that stretched into the early hours, organisers will prepare to brew extra coffee again when