Wednesday at the U.S. Open produced decisive developments for both tours: Elena Rybakina’s quarterfinal victory over Qinwen Zheng put her into the semifinals and secured the world No. 1 ranking, Coco Gauff was pushed after dropping the first set to Mirra Andreeva, and top men’s seed Alexander Zverev was scheduled for a late session against Botic van de Zandschulp.
- Elena Rybakina beat Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals and clinched the WTA world No. 1 ranking.
- Coco Gauff lost the first set to Mirra Andreeva and showed signs of recovery in the second, with early serving and forehand errors noted.
- Alexander Zverev was scheduled to play Botic van de Zandschulp in a late-session men’s quarterfinal; no result for that match was provided in the packet.
Snapshot: results and stakes
On Arthur Ashe Stadium, No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina beat Qinwen Zheng in three sets to reach the semifinals and, by doing so, clinched the WTA world No. 1 ranking for the first time, according to multiple match reports.
Also on Ashe, Coco Gauff — the U.S. Open champion and the tournament’s No. 4 seed — lost the opening set to Mirra Andreeva (No. 5) and fought to stay competitive in the second, with live coverage noting that Gauff’s serve and forehand produced unforced errors early before she began to regain rhythm.
On the men’s side, No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev was due to play Botic van de Zandschulp in a night session; other men’s action on the day included Karen Khachanov facing Alexander Blockx, per the published order of play.
How Rybakina reached the summit
Reports described Rybakina’s quarterfinal as a three-set match: she dropped the first set to Zheng but recovered to win the next two, closing out the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a contest that lasted just over two hours in New York, according to live updates and post-match summaries.
Those accounts state that Rybakina’s victory moved her above Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings; one live update noted she will hold the top ranking regardless of the remaining results at the tournament. The match narratives emphasize Rybakina’s serve and her ability to reassert control after losing the opening set.
Gauff v Andreeva: a tight quarterfinal with momentum swings
Contemporary live coverage detailed a match in which Andreeva opened strongly, taking the first set 6-2 in roughly half an hour while Gauff struggled with double faults and forehand errors. Observers recorded that Gauff’s first-serve percentage was low in the opening set and that Andreeva won a high share of points on her first serve.
The second set was more competitive. Reports cited rallies of back-and-forth pressure: Gauff committed several double faults early but produced moments of aggression — including serve-and-volley points and an ace — that helped her hold serve at important junctures. Andreeva continued to target Gauff’s forehand and used directional variety to probe the American, while Gauff’s ability to mix defense and forward movement offered signs of recovery.
Coverage from independent live blogs agreed on the broad arc: an Andreeva start, Gauff errors in the opening stages, then a steadier Gauff as the match progressed. The sources differ in narrative detail but consistently describe a swing in tone after the first set that left the tie open as it moved into later games.
Men’s quarterfinals: Zverev waits in the evening
Preview pieces and the day’s order of play placed Alexander Zverev — the tournament’s No. 1 men’s seed — in a late session against Botic van de Zandschulp. Reports note Zverev reached the quarters after a four-round run that included a straight-sets win over Luciano Darderi in the fourth round and that he became the only man to reach the quarterfinals at all four 2026 Grand Slam events, according to tournament previews.
Van de Zandschulp’s path to the quarters was characterized as gritty: he had an earlier marathon comeback that served as context for his reputation as a ‘giant-killer,’ making the matchup stylistically intriguing despite Zverev’s higher seeding and form. No match result for the Zverev–van de Zandschulp quarterfinal appears in the materials provided.
Context and implications for U.S. fans
Coco Gauff is the home favorite and a former U.S. Open champion; her performance matters both for the tournament atmosphere in Flushing Meadows and for American interest in the late stages. Live commentary emphasized the crowd’s visible encouragement of Gauff when she was behind, and noted that Arthur Ashe’s support can become consequential in tense deciding sets.
Rybakina’s ascent to No. 1 is material for the U.S. Open because it alters the narrative of the tournament and the landscape of women’s tennis heading into the final rounds. Multiple accounts state she will retain the ranking through the remainder of this event regardless of subsequent outcomes.
Timeline — Day 11 (as reported)
- Rybakina defeats Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals (3-6, 6-1, 6-4), securing a place in the semifinals and the WTA world No. 1 ranking.
- Coco Gauff begins her quarterfinal against Mirra Andreeva, dropping the first set 2-6 and beginning to fight back in the second as errors decreased.
- On the men’s schedule, Karen Khachanov faced Alexander Blockx and Alexander Zverev was set to play Botic van de Zandschulp in the evening session.
Unresolved points and what to watch next
Sources supplied match results for Rybakina’s quarterfinal and partial play-by-play for Gauff’s match through the early and middle games, but none of the materials in the packet included a final score for Gauff–Andreeva or the Zverev evening match. For readers focused on outcomes: follow-up updates from the tournament’s official channels or later match reports will be required to confirm final results and semifinal pairings beyond Rybakina’s confirmed advancement.
Why these matches matter
From a U.S. perspective, Gauff’s quarterfinal carried immediate national interest because she is an American contender and a crowd favorite at Flushing Meadows. Zheng’s run through qualifying and then into the quarterfinals made her match with Rybakina a high-profile contest; Rybakina’s victory and elevation to No. 1 reshapes the ranking conversation that U.S. audiences have followed all season. On the men’s side, Zverev’s presence as the top seed in the late session kept attention on the potential for another Grand Slam title run.
Sources and attribution
This article synthesizes contemporary live reporting, match previews and day summaries from established outlets covering the U.S. Open on September 9, 2026. Specific in-match descriptions and statistics referenced here reflect the play-by-play and live updates published that day; any claim not explicitly confirmed by those sources is identified as pending further reporting.
