The 26-year-old jumped above Poland's French Open champion Iga Swiatek thanks to year-end adjustments in the standings.
Top seed Swiatek, who won the title two years ago, showcased her all-court game in a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Liudmila Samsonova to open the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium and warned she was only going to improve.
Four-time French Open champion Swiatek was equally dominant as Sinner as the top-seeded Pole eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
World number one Iga Swiatek of Poland withdrew from next week's WTA event in Toronto on Friday, citing fatigue from her run to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
World number seven Zheng triumphed 6-2, 7-5 and will face either Croatia's Donna Vekic or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the gold medal match.
On a cold and wet day at the All England Club, only three of the women's top 10 were left in the draw, while Andy Murray's Wimbledon career ended with a whimper when Emma Raducanu pulled the plug on their mixed doubles plans.
Seven-time champion Djokovic is chasing Roger Federer's record of eight titles at the All England Club and his 25th Grand Slam title in total.
The Polish has won five Grand Slams but has never progressed beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Iga Swiatek goes into Saturday's French Open final as the overwhelming favourite in her quest for a third successive Roland Garros title against surprise challenger Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
The 26-year-old jumped above Poland's French Open champion Iga Swiatek thanks to year-end adjustments in the standings.
Top seed Swiatek, who won the title two years ago, showcased her all-court game in a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Liudmila Samsonova to open the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium and warned she was only going to improve.
Four-time French Open champion Swiatek was equally dominant as Sinner as the top-seeded Pole eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
World number one Iga Swiatek of Poland withdrew from next week's WTA event in Toronto on Friday, citing fatigue from her run to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
World number seven Zheng triumphed 6-2, 7-5 and will face either Croatia's Donna Vekic or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the gold medal match.
On a cold and wet day at the All England Club, only three of the women's top 10 were left in the draw, while Andy Murray's Wimbledon career ended with a whimper when Emma Raducanu pulled the plug on their mixed doubles plans.
Seven-time champion Djokovic is chasing Roger Federer's record of eight titles at the All England Club and his 25th Grand Slam title in total.
The Polish has won five Grand Slams but has never progressed beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Iga Swiatek goes into Saturday's French Open final as the overwhelming favourite in her quest for a third successive Roland Garros title against surprise challenger Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
Iga Swiatek swept past Coco Gauff to reach the Rome Open final on Thursday where Aryna Sabalenka will stand in her way of a third title and her bid to match a Serena Williams record.