Rybakina Claims World No. 1 as Gauff Saves Match Points | US Open 2026 Day 11 Roundup
US Open 2026 Day 11 Roundup
The US Open 2026 Day 11 roundup crowned a new world No. 1 as Elena Rybakina recovered to defeat Qinwen Zheng, while Coco Gauff saved two match points in a remarkable comeback against Mirra Andreeva.
Both women advanced to an intriguing semifinal between the reigning Australian Open champion and the former US Open champion. The women’s doubles finalists were also confirmed, with Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend advancing alongside unseeded Americans Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery.
US Open 2026 Day 11 Roundup: Rybakina Reaches No. 1
Elena Rybakina defeated Qinwen Zheng 3–6, 6–1, 6–4, securing her first US Open semifinal and guaranteeing that she will become the new WTA world No. 1 after the tournament.
Zheng started strongly and prevented Rybakina from settling into her preferred first-strike patterns. The Chinese qualifier absorbed the Kazakh’s power, attacked the second serve and claimed the opening set 6–3.
Rybakina’s response was emphatic.
She increased the accuracy of her first serve, struck with greater depth and allowed Zheng only one game in the second set. The match became considerably tighter in the decider, but Rybakina secured the decisive break and protected it through the closing stages.
The victory ends Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top of the rankings. Rybakina becomes the first player representing Kazakhstan—and the 30th woman overall—to hold the WTA No. 1 ranking.
Watch: Rybakina’s world No. 1-winning moment
Queenwen’s Remarkable Run Ends
Zheng leaves New York after one of the tournament’s most unexpected campaigns.
She entered the qualifying draw ranked No. 121 following elbow surgery and a difficult return to competition. After winning three qualifying matches, she added four victories in the main draw to become the first women’s qualifier to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Emma Raducanu in 2021.
Her run included two extraordinary recoveries:
- She came back from 5–0 down in the deciding set and saved match point against Madison Keys.
- She recovered from 5–0 down in the opening set before defeating Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
Rybakina finally stopped the comeback queen—but only after recovering from a set down herself.
The quarterfinal defeat does not diminish what Zheng accomplished. After injuries and uncertainty dropped her from a career-high ranking of No. 4 to outside the Top 100, seven consecutive victories in New York provided evidence that “Queenwen” is ready to return to the top level of the women’s game.
Watch: Zheng vs Rybakina highlights
Gauff Saves Two Match Points Against Andreeva
Coco Gauff defeated Mirra Andreeva 2–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–2 after saving two match points in the second-set tiebreak.
Andreeva produced a nearly flawless opening set.
The French Open champion struck the ball cleanly, committed only five unforced errors and took advantage of another difficult serving performance from Gauff. The American appeared frustrated and struggled to establish control from the baseline.
Gauff refused to disappear.
The second set developed into a physical and increasingly tense contest. Its defining moment came during a 39-shot rally in the tiebreak, with Gauff’s defence forcing Andreeva to play one additional ball repeatedly.
Andreeva reached match point twice, but Gauff survived both opportunities and eventually claimed the tiebreak 9–7.
Once the match entered a deciding set, the momentum had changed completely.
Gauff’s movement and defensive persistence began drawing errors from Andreeva. The American established an early lead and closed the final set 6–2, completing one of the tournament’s most dramatic escapes.
Gauff later revealed that Frances Tiafoe’s comeback from two sets down against Alex Michelsen the previous day gave her inspiration when she appeared close to elimination.
Watch: Gauff and Andreeva’s dramatic second-set tiebreak
Rybakina and Gauff Set Up Blockbuster Semifinal
Rybakina and Gauff will now meet for a place in the US Open final.
Their semifinal brings together the two most recent Grand Slam champions:
- Elena Rybakina: 2026 Australian Open champion
- Coco Gauff: 2026 Wimbledon champion
Their head-to-head record is tied, with Rybakina winning their most recent encounter in the Toronto semifinals.
The tactical contrast should make this one of the tournament’s strongest matchups. Rybakina will attempt to control points through her serve and flat, penetrating groundstrokes. Gauff will rely on movement, defence and her ability to make opponents play uncomfortable extra shots.
Gauff cannot afford another slow start or prolonged serving difficulties. Rybakina is unlikely to surrender control as Andreeva did after holding match points.
Rybakina, meanwhile, must manage the additional emotional weight of having secured the world No. 1 ranking. The ranking race is over, but the US Open crown remains undecided.
Top Four Seeds Complete the Semifinal Lineup
The women’s semifinals will feature all four leading seeds:
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Elena Rybakina
- Jessica Pegula
- Coco Gauff
It is the first time the top four seeds have all reached the semifinals of a women’s Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009.
The semifinal matchups are:
- Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jessica Pegula
- Elena Rybakina vs. Coco Gauff
The first is a rematch of the 2024 US Open final. The second features the new world No. 1 against the 2023 New York champion.
Siniakova and Townsend Reach Another US Open Final
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend defeated Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider 6–0, 7–6(10–8).
The top seeds dominated the opening set but encountered far stronger resistance in the second. Mertens and Shnaider pushed the set into a tiebreak before Siniakova and Townsend completed the straight-sets victory.
The result gives the leading seeds another opportunity to claim their first US Open title as a team.
They have already won the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon together. A victory in New York would complete their career Grand Slam as a partnership.
Watch: Siniakova/Townsend vs. Mertens/Shnaider Highlights
Krueger and Montgomery Complete Stunning Comeback
Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery defeated second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(10–8).
The unseeded Americans saved two match points and recovered from an extraordinary 8–2 deficit in the deciding match tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Stefani appeared only two points away from the final, but Krueger and Montgomery won eight consecutive points to complete the comeback.
The defeat ended an exceptionally consistent Grand Slam season for Dabrowski and Stefani. They reached the semifinals at all four majors in 2026 but could not convert their New York opportunity into another final.
Krueger and Montgomery, the 2021 US Open girls’ doubles champions, will now attempt to win the senior title together.
Watch: Montgomery/Krueger vs. Dabrowski/Stefani — official US Open highlights
What Day 11 Told Us
Rybakina’s achievement is larger than one quarterfinal victory.
She arrived in New York chasing Sabalenka in the rankings and completed that pursuit by reaching the semifinals. Regardless of what happens next, the women’s game will officially have a new No. 1.
Gauff’s victory revealed something different.
Her tennis was far from perfect, and Andreeva stood two points from victory. Gauff nevertheless remained engaged long enough for the match to change. Saving two match points and then winning the deciding set 6–2 demonstrated the competitive resistance required to win majors.
For Andreeva, the defeat will hurt because the opportunity was real. She controlled the opening set and held match points, but could not close against one of the sport’s best defenders.
Queenwen’s campaign also ends without a title but with her reputation restored. Qualifying for the tournament and then defeating Keys and Swiatek represents a significant return after months disrupted by injury.
Day 11 gave the tournament a new world No. 1, completed a semifinal lineup containing the top four seeds and produced two doubles finalists with completely different stories: the dominant top seeds against an unseeded American partnership riding a remarkable comeback.