New Delhi, September 14 (Daily Kiran) : Elena Rybakina has officially claimed the title of World No. 1 in women’s tennis, surpassing Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the latest WTA rankings released on September 14, 2026. This milestone comes after Rybakina’s impressive performance in the US Open, where she defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng in the quarter-finals.
The Kazakhstani star solidified her top position by winning the tournament, beating Sabalenka in the final. With this achievement, Rybakina becomes the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach the pinnacle of singles rankings. Throughout the season, she consistently challenged Sabalenka, particularly as the Belarusian’s form dipped midway through the year.
While Sabalenka struggled during the season, Rybakina had been on a steady ascent since the end of last year. She excelled during the North American hard-court swing and continued her success in New York. After securing the No. 1 ranking, Rybakina expressed her pride in representing Kazakhstan, stating, “This is history, and I am very proud to represent Kazakhstan. I never thought I would become professional or play in such major tournaments.”
Following her loss to Rybakina in the US Open final, Sabalenka responded to the news of Rybakina’s ascent. When reminded of her 99-week reign at the top, she jokingly questioned whether Rybakina could surpass her in that regard, saying, “Let’s see if Elena can beat me in that. If she continues to play like this, then yes, I could be in trouble.”
Rybakina clinched her first US Open title with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 against Sabalenka. After the victory, she reflected on the experience, saying, “It’s truly unbelievable. I still can’t believe it. I mean, I have no words.”
Interestingly, Rybakina had not touched her racket for a week leading up to the tournament and admitted that her preparation in New York was far from ideal. She explained, “Somehow, we were trying to find a way every day and face the challenges that came my way each morning. I hadn’t even touched my racket for seven days before the tournament.”
Despite numerous challenges and uncertainties, Rybakina made a remarkable comeback to win the title. Notably, she practiced for just four days before the event. “I had complete trust in myself, and I was constantly discussing strategies with my team. My experiences in Canada and Cincinnati also helped. Many things were in my favor. To be honest, I’m surprised I succeeded in winning the title.”
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