Aryna Sabalenka is DETHRONED as world No. 1
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Aryna Sabalenka has lost her status as women’s world No. 1 after major rival Elena Rybakina booked her spot in the US Open semi-finals by defeating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.
The Belarusian had spent 99 consecutive weeks at the summit of the women’s game and 106 weeks in total, but knew her position was dangerously under threat heading into the tournament in New York.
To keep hold of her position, Sabalenka would have had to defend all of her ranking points won at Flushing Meadows as the reigning champion, and see Rybakina go out to Zheng.
Having only reached the fourth round last year, Rybakina had fewer points to defend, combined with a consistent year that has seen the Kazakh star win the Australian Open in January.
Rybakina has never before been world No. 1, and admitted that it was ‘tough to find words’ after reaching the milestone.
‘It’s been a very difficult match, with a lot of nerves, and it wasn’t maybe the highest level,’ she told on-court interviewer Andrea Petkovic, ‘I’m glad I pushed through.
‘It’s been an early match, and in my head I was complaining about sun, shadow – it was definitely a battle inside me, and I’m glad I pushed all the negative thoughts away, and I’m happy to be in the semi-finals here.
‘I didn’t start that well, and I was negative, and it wasn’t easy (transitioning from night to day matches), (but) I was just telling myself, keep on fighting, work on some things.’
On her ranking, she added: ‘it’s just a number right now, and of course I’m in the semis. My goal is to win the tournaments I play.
‘It’s an amazing achievement, but you know how quickly everything can change in ranking points, in matches. I just need to focus (on my next match).’
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