Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings for the first time. She leads the list updated on September 14 with 9,901 points. Two days earlier, she won the US Open, beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final.
Officially world No. 1
Rybakina climbed from second to first in the WTA rankings. Sabalenka dropped to second with 7,875 points.
Rybakina had secured the top spot before the US Open final, with her quarterfinal win over Zheng Qinwen. The change took effect when the rankings were updated on Monday, September 14.
The 27-year-old became the first player representing Kazakhstan to lead the WTA singles rankings and the 30th woman to hold the No. 1 position.
An ace to finish the final
The final took place in New York on September 12 and lasted two hours and 21 minutes. Rybakina won the opening set. In the second, Sabalenka saved two break points and levelled the match.
Rybakina broke twice in the deciding set and sealed the victory with an ace, her 12th of the match.
Sabalenka had won the previous two US Open titles. Rybakina ended her 19-match winning streak at the tournament and denied her a third consecutive crown.
A third Grand Slam title
The US Open trophy was Rybakina’s first in New York and her third at a Grand Slam. She previously won Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2026. Sabalenka was also her opponent in the Melbourne final.
On her way to the US Open title, Rybakina beat three former champions: Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, Coco Gauff in the semifinals and Sabalenka in the final. Before this year, she had never advanced beyond the fourth round in New York.
