NEW YORK, Sept ⁠9 (Reuters) - Elena Rybakina became the first player representing Kazakhstan to secure the ⁠world number one ranking on Wednesday, as she reached the U.S. ‌Open semi-finals in a campaign that once appeared in jeopardy.

The second seed retired injured from the Cincinnati tune-up tournament last month and had scarcely more than a week to get back on track ​before the year's final major, casting a shadow over ⁠her prospects at Flushing Meadows.

But ⁠those clouds have since cleared and Rybakina shone under the blistering summer sun on ⁠Wednesday ‌as she battled past Zheng Qinwen to reach the tournament's last four and secure the number one ranking.

"I think from where I was coming ⁠to this tournament, being injured and not practising, I ​think we came pretty ‌far," said Rybakina, who faces the 2023 champion Coco Gauff for a ⁠spot in the ​final.

She is assured of top spot when the rankings update on Monday, regardless of the outcome, a breakthrough moment for Kazakhstan on the sport's global stage.

She is the 30th ⁠woman to capture the number one spot, after dethroning ​Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

"I'm very proud representing Kazakhstan. Every time I come back to Kazakhstan, no matter which city I go, it's always so many kids," she told reporters. "Now ⁠they play tennis, and more and more are coming to the tennis facilities."

The Russian-born Rybakina switched allegiances to Kazakhstan in 2018 to get more financial support and has since transformed the country's tennis profile, becoming itsfirst Grand Slam singles champion at ​Wimbledon in 2022 before winning the Australian Open this ⁠year.

Kazakhstan Tennis Federation President Bulat Utemuratov called it a "historic day."

"She continues to perfectly exemplifythe ​successful development of tennis in our country, and ‌her ascent to the very top of ​world tennis will deeply inspire the younger generation of Kazakhstani players," hesaid in a statement.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New YorkEditing by Toby Davis)