Rybakina secures No. 1 ranking with win in US Open quarterfinals over Zheng

NEW YORK — Elena Rybakina is headed to the US Open semifinals and to the top of the women’s tennis rankings. Rybakina edged Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday, guaranteeing she will become No. 1 in the WTA rankings. The Australian Open champion will face No. 4 Coco Gauff or No. 5 Mirra Andreeva on Thursday. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faces No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal. But no matter what happens in the remaining matches, Rybakina will end Sabalenka’s 99-week stay at No. 1 when the new rankings are released Monday. “It’s just a number right now…