Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina's Journey to the Top of Women's Tennis

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final on September 12 to claim her third Grand Slam title and become the first world No. 1 in Kazakh tennis history. The victory capped a career that began with years of training without an individual coach in Moscow, a pivotal decision to represent Kazakhstan at age 18, and a steady progression through the WTA ranks that included a Wimbledon title in 2022 and an Australian Open title in 2026.

Securing the title lent additional weight to a victory that had already attracted attention, bringing to a close a contest that few had expected to play out in such a way. Withdrawing from her first-set match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati meant she missed an opportunity to claim the world number one ranking earlier than anticipated. After dropping the opening set 6-3, Rybakina won the next two 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first US Open final, having been born in Moscow on 17 June 1999. That funding allowed Rybakina to forgo a college tennis career in the United States, giving her the resources to compete on the professional circuit, build a support team around her, and retain a dedicated coach who could accompany her to tournaments throughout the season. Rybakina expressed gratitude for the support of those around her, noting that their backing had contributed to her development as a player, with the tennis star having claimed her maiden WTA Tour title in St. Petersburg back in 2018. Before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the tennis calendar, Rybakina had advanced to a world ranking of 17, a position that made her the first Kazakhstani player to feature in the WTA Top 20. The result put Wimbledon in an awkward spot, given that the tournament had barred competitors from Russia and Belarus in response to the war in Ukraine. Throughout the tournament, she won every round without losing once. The victory moved her back into the top five in the world rankings and stood as her most prestigious title since her Wimbledon triumph. Rybakina claimed her second Grand Slam crown at the 2026 Australian Open, edging past Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a three-set final. Rybakina's victory over Sabalenka in the US Open final added to what analysts have characterised as one of the stronger campaigns of her professional career. Among her career accomplishments were three Grand Slam titles, a US Open trophy, and a place at the top of the world rankings in Kazakh tennis.

Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina's Journey to the Top of Women's Tennis

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Making of World No. 1: Elena Rybakina's Journey to the Top of Women's Tennis

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