Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina became the new world No. 1 on Sept. 9, after defeating China’s Qinwen Zheng in the US Open quarterfinals.
Rybakina became the first from her country to accomplish the feat, according to the WTA, after the 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
“I’m very proud representing Kazakhstan,” she said after the match. “It’s just amazing how many young people [look] up to [me] and it just proves that everything is possible if you believe [and] if [you] work hard.”
Rybakina said she was bothered by the early start time of the match and faced issues such as the sun and shadows, but was able to turn the match around in the second set by being more aggressive in crucial moments….