The 2026 US Open has reached its decisive stage, and the women’s draw is producing a rankings picture with major consequences. After all four quarter-finals were pushed to the limit, the semi-final lineup is set: Aryna Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula, while Coco Gauff meets Elena Rybakina.

The biggest development is at the top of the WTA Rankings. Sabalenka, who has been world No 1 since October 2024, is about to lose that position to Rybakina. For the first time in her career, Rybakina will become world No 1, having gone one round better than her 2025 US Open showing.

Sabalenka’s title defence complicates the picture further. As the reigning champion, she is protecting 2,000 points and could slip as low as fourth depending on how the final two rounds play out. Pegula and Gauff remain third and fourth in the Live WTA Rankings, but both are still within reach of second.

There has also been movement elsewhere in the top 10. Mirra Andreeva and Linda Noskova stay fifth and sixth after their quarter-final exits, while Elina Svitolina has moved up from ninth to seventh despite a third-round departure, helped by improving on her 2025 result. Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek have both fallen back after losing points, and Amanda Anisimova has dropped to 11th following a third-round loss. Marta Kostyuk has taken her place in the top 10 for the first time.

Beyond that group, Diana Shnaider is up to 13th, Sorana Cirstea has reached 15th, and the Ukrainian trio of Oleksandra Oliynykova, Daria Snigur and Yulia Starodubtseva have each achieved new career-best rankings. Qinwen Zheng’s run to the quarter-finals as a qualifier has lifted her 69 places to 52nd.

Among the biggest setbacks, Naomi Osaka has fallen to 17th after a fourth-round exit, Daria Kasatkina is down to 85th after an opening-round defeat, and Emma Raducanu has slid to 89th after missing the tournament through injury.

Carlos Alcaraz’s late-night loss to Ben Shelton has prompted a strong response from inside his own camp, with one key team member directing a clear criticism at US Open organisers.

Alcaraz was beaten in five sets by Shelton in a quarter-final that did not begin until after 11pm on Tuesday and finished at 3:33am on Wednesday. That made it the latest finish in the tournament’s history.

The match was the fourth scheduled in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, following the men’s quarter-final between Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen, along with two women’s quarter-finals. Every one of the four matches went to a deciding set, while three were settled by a match tiebreak in the final set.

After the match, Alberto Lledo, Alcaraz’s fitness trainer, said the scheduling crossed a line from a physical standpoint. He wrote on Instagram: “On some occasions, I know (I say this humbly) that performance is not synonymous with health,” Lledo wrote on Instagram.

He added: “We have to adapt to any circumstance, and whoever does it first gains a competitive edge, but starting a 5-set tennis match at 11pm is anything but healthy for an athlete.”

The US Open’s scheduling approach has drawn wider scrutiny since the Shelton-Alcaraz contest. Paolo Bertolucci, the former Italian player and current Sky commentator in Italy, also reacted strongly on X/Twitter.

“They’ve decided to kill tennis,” wrote Bertolucci, who won six ATP Tour singles titles and peaked at world No 12.

“Over four hours of a match that ends at 3:30 in the morning. Then they despair over absences due to injuries. Shame!!!

“Asking an athlete to perform at 3 a.m. means pursuing a diabolical plan designed to destroy tennis.”

Alcaraz, meanwhile, said after the defeat: “Well, as I said before the tournament began, my expectation was to go there, compete, play in these kinds of matches, for me, being healthy.

“So, it was close. It was close. So, I’m just a little bit disappointed about not getting the win, but I’m just happy. I’m just proud about myself, about how I fought.

Alexander Zverev has taken issue with the timing of his 2026 US Open semi-final, calling the schedule “strange” and saying it may work against him.

The world No 2 moved into the last four with a straightforward 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 victory over 70th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday evening. The result keeps alive his bid for a second Grand Slam title, with world No 50 Karen Khachanov waiting in Friday’s semi-final.

The other men’s semi-final will feature Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, who each won five-set quarter-finals on Tuesday. Their all-American meeting has been placed in the night session, which will start no earlier than 7pm. Zverev and Khachanov, although they played their quarter-finals a day later, will be on court first, with their match set for not before 3pm.

That decision clearly did not sit well with Zverev. After his quarter-final win, he was asked about the schedule and gave a blunt response.

“I don’t think it’s something that plays in my favour. Certainly not,” said the 29-year-old German.

“I also think it’s a bit strange that people who have two days off are playing after us. I’ve never experienced that.

“I’ve never experienced that in my 12 years on tour. But it is what it is. It’s a bit strange.”

Zverev also reflected on reaching the semi-finals at all four majors in 2026, saying the milestone should still be valued even as it starts to feel familiar.

“I think the more often that you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted,” Zverev said.

“I think it’s a very special feeling when it becomes normality. I don’t take it for granted at all. I know it can change in a heartbeat in tennis.

“I think confidence is something that is incredibly important, but also can go away quite quickly. I found that out after Wimbledon, where I didn’t play well throughout the two hard-court tournaments, and then I found it again here.

“Of course, I’m happy with how things are going, but looking forward, I still hope to play two good matches here.”