Elena Rybakina will achieve the PIF WTA World No.1 singles ranking for the first time in her career, as confirmed by the WTA on Wednesday. The updated rankings will be released following the US Open on September 14, 2026. The 27-year-old becomes the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach this milestone and is the 30th woman in WTA history to hold the top ranking.
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Entering the US Open, other contenders for the No.1 ranking included Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. However, after the results in New York on Wednesday, Rybakina surpassed Aryna Sabalenka, who has held the position for 107 weeks since October 2024, ranking her 10th for the longest time at No.1 in WTA history.
Rybakina expressed her joy, stating, "Becoming the WTA World No.1 is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a young girl, it means so much to me. I’m so proud of this moment. I want to thank my whole team for their support and being able to celebrate this achievement with me."
Rybakina's ascent has been marked by significant achievements over the past year, including winning the 2025 WTA Finals title with a record $5.235 million prize, the largest payout in women's sports history at that time. She secured her second Grand Slam title at the 2026 Australian Open, along with victories at the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the WTA 250 AUX Ningbo Open.
Her recent performance also includes runner-up finishes at the BNP Paribas Open and the National Bank Open, along with a semifinal spot at the Miami Open. Rybakina solidified her new ranking with a quarterfinal victory over Zheng Qinwen at the US Open, and she currently leads the Tour in aces with over 350 this season.