Elena Rybakina Becomes First Kazakh Player to Reach World No. 1 Ranking

Women’s tennis has a new world No. 1, though the milestone arrived amid the high-stakes pressure of a Grand Slam tournament still very much underway. Elena Rybakina captured the top spot from Aryna Sabalenka at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, overcoming a slow start against China’s Zheng Qinwen before sealing a three-set quarterfinal victory.

The achievement marks a historic first. Rybakina is the 30th woman to claim the elite ranking since the WTA system began in 1975, and she stands as the first player representing Kazakhstan, male or female, to reach the singles pinnacle.

Overcoming Nerves and a Slow Start Against Zheng Qinwen

The pressure of the ranking battle visibly weighed on Rybakina during the opening stages of her quarterfinal match. She struggled with her timing, first-serve percentage and energy in the opening set as Zheng seized control.

Rybakina raced through the second set 6-1 and maintained her composure in a tense decider. When Zheng double-faulted at 4-all to concede the break, Rybakina served out the match, closing the two-hour and 14-minute encounter with 20 winners.

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Mixed Feelings While Chasing Another Major Trophy

Taking over the top spot in the middle of a major championship created a unique emotional landscape for the 27-year-old. While the achievement represented a lifelong ambition, she admitted to having mixed feelings with the tournament still active.

“It’s exciting, but at the same time tough to believe because the tournament is still going on. It’s an unbelievable achievement, and I think I need a little bit more time to process.”

Elena Rybakina, via Heavy.com

Rybakina reiterated that her immediate focus remained locked on competition rather than ranking mathematics. It's just a number right now. My goal is to win the tournaments which I play, she told reporters.

Aryna Sabalenka Reacts to Ending a 99-Week Reign

Sabalenka’s departure from the top spot brings an end to a stellar 99-week consecutive reign that stretched back to October 21, 2024—standing as the sixth-longest streak in WTA history.

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“Joking aside, I really understand about how tough it is to reach world number one. It’s a lot of work. It was one of my goals, but right now there was not much I could do. I did not really perform well in the middle of the season. Elena took it over and played really well and took away the number one position.”

Aryna Sabalenka, via Yahoo Sports

Sabalenka also questioned the mechanics of mid-tournament ranking shifts, adding that it does feel a little bit weird that you can perform well in the tournament and still be taking away the number one position. Despite the frustration, she embraced the competitive chase, noting that everyone is pursuing each other in a sport defined by continuous improvement.

A Dominant 12-Month Run to Tennis’ Summit

Rybakina’s ascent is built upon a formidable year on the tour. Driven by unmatched serve power—leading the tour with more than 350 aces this season—and precise baseline play, she captured her second career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. That triumph followed an undefeated run to the 2025 WTA Finals title, which earned her a record-breaking $5.235 million payout.

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Her consistency also included a clay-court title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in April, alongside runner-up finishes at the WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Toronto. With 48 match victories this season, she trails only Jessica Pegula’s 50 wins on the WTA Tour.

The stakes at Flushing Meadows remain high. Rybakina advances to face Coco Gauff in the semifinals, while Sabalenka meets Pegula. Regardless of who lifts the trophy on Saturday, the updated rankings on Monday, September 14, will confirm Rybakina at the summit of women’s tennis.