New York, 4 September (EFE). – Belarusian Arina Sobolenko, who will become the new number one in the women’s rankings as soon as the US Open ends, this Monday celebrated her privileged position in the WTA rankings by advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament. “big” New York with the beating of Russian Daria Kasatkina.
Sobolenko (2) overwhelmingly defeated Kasatkina (14) in the Round of 16 6-1 and 6-4 in one hour and 15 minutes.
In addition, she also became the first tennis player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach the quarter-finals of all Grand Slams in the same year.
Waiting for her in the next round is China’s Qinwen Zheng (23), who also decisively eliminated last year’s US Open finalist Tunisia Ons Jaber (5), 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 22 minutes.
This year’s Australian Open champion, Sobolenko secured her WTA No. 1 spot on Sunday after the surprise loss of reigning US Open champion Swiatek against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko (21) in the round of 16.
Swiatek, this year’s Roland Garros winner, has been number one in the women’s rankings since April 2022 and will cede her favored position to Sobolenko after 75 weeks at the top after the conclusion of the US Open.
“It means a lot to me (…). It’s incredible, it’s crazy. I still can’t believe it,” Sobalenko said immediately after the end of the round of 16 match about what it means to be a number one. ranked for the first time.
The Belarusian admitted that she believed that Swiatek would reach the final at Flushing Meadows, and was sure that she herself would be able to reach the title match to fight in a big fight with the Pole.
“I wanted to fight this battle and decide everything on the track. I was sad that I lost,” said Sobolenko, who in any case was proud of the work and effort she put in this year to “achieve this goal.”