Elena Rybakina’s Road to WTA World No. 1 National Bank Open

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On Saturday, Elena Rybakina was crowned US Open champion. Two days later, she officially became the world No. 1 for the first time in her career.

Rybakina’s road to No. 1 truly started to take shape during the first half of the season. She made significant strides after hoisting the 2026 Australian Open trophy as the world No. 5, bringing her back into the Top 3. Then, in March, the Kazakhstani made the Indian Wells final as she achieved a career high of No. 2 in the WTA rankings, and suddenly, the top spot was well within her sights.

“The No. 1 ranking is, of course, one of the goals,” Rybakina told the WTA earlier this year. “But I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles, and then the ranking will follow up. We go match by match, but obviously, we want to win the titles, the tournaments. So that, I would say, is the main goal.”

Sitting atop of the WTA rankings was Aryna Sabalenka. The four-time major champion looked to remain No. 1 for two full calendar years uninterrupted, but her hold began to show some cracks over the clay season. Sabalenka couldn’t make it past the quarter-finals in all three “Big” events, failing to defend considerable points after winning the Madrid title and reaching the Roland-Garros final last year.

Meanwhile, Rybakina chipped away at the gap. The world No. 2 secured the Stuttgart title and bettered last season’s result in Rome by finishing in the quarters.

However, to Sabalenka’s benefit, her rival Rybakina was unable to make up further ground on grass. Both players suffered early exits – by their standards – at Wimbledon, leaving it all up to the North American hard-court swing to determine if there will be a new world No. 1 this year.

Rybakina had a better, and much more grueling, return to the hard courts. The Kazakhstani made the National Bank Open presented by Rogers final in Toronto, spending almost 11-and-a-half hours on court before falling to Iga Swiatek in the title match.

The hard-fought path to the Toronto final seemed to eventually take a toll on Rybakina, though. Exactly a week later, the 27-year-old was forced to retire in the Cincinnati quarter-finals due to an ankle injury, raising some concern about whether the soon-to-be US Open champion was even going to be fit enough to compete at Flushing Meadows.

Yet, Rybakina still made the trip to New York and, despite her taped ankle, she looked just fine once her campaign got underway. The second seed was perfect through her opening four matches, earning a statement 6-1, 6-4 win over two-time US Open titlist Naomi Osaka in round four.

Then, in the quarters, Rybakina was just one victory away from assuring that she will be the new world No. 1 following the conclusion of the tournament. A semifinal berth was all she needed to clinch top spot in the WTA rankings, but the resurging Qinwen Zheng didn’t make things easy for the 27-year-old.

Rybakina lost her first set of the event and was behind heading into the second. However, the now three-time Grand Slam champion turned up the intensity and came out with the win, guaranteeing that she will be the 30^th singles world No. 1 in WTA history on Monday.

The top spot wasn’t all Rybakina was after, though, as her maiden US Open title was just two victories away.

The Kazakhstani had to produce another comeback in the semifinals, dropping the opening set to world No. 4 and crowd favourite, Coco Gauff. Rybakina repeated the feat that sent her to the National Bank Open final and defeated Gauff from a set down.

And of course, waiting for her in the US Open final – familiar foe, Sabalenka.

The two-time WTA Player of the Year was not only looking to defend her title, but she was out for some revenge after Rybakina ended her 99-week stay atop the WTA rankings. But, just like how the Australian Open trophy was awarded back in January, Rybakina took down Sabalenka in three sets once again to cap off the Slam season, and a milestone fortnight, with US Open silverware.

The world No. 1 will now look forward to achieving another historic accomplishment next season, being a Roland-Garros title away from completing the Career Grand Slam.

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Feature Photo: Jimmie48 Tennis Photography