Elena Rybakina secures WTA world number 1 in 2026

ByDavid Mitchell

The WTA It already has a queen for the 2026 season. Elena Rybakina has secured the world number one of the year this Thursday after qualifying for the Tokyo WTA 500 quarterfinals. The Kazakh has defeated her compatriot Yulia Putintseva 6-2 and 6-3 and with this he meets with the Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the penultimate round.

Fernandez, precisely, was Rybakina’s rival in the final of the WTA 500 in Ningbo. The Kazakh won by a double 6-2, with a resounding victory that relaunched her candidacy for number one at the end of the year.

This one is already tied, because this Thursday’s victory guarantees Rybakina to finish the season as number one in the world. Pick up the baton from Aryna Sabalenkanumber one of the year in 2024 and in 2025. The Kazakh becomes the seventeenth player in the history of the women’s circuit to finish at the top of the classification.

He is thus rewarded for a year in which, to date, he has accumulated four titles and two finals. She has been proclaimed champion of the Australian Open and the US Openwith both finals won precisely against Sabalenka, and the 500 tournaments in Stuttgart and Ningbo. In addition, Rybakina fell in the finals of Indian Wells against Sabalenka and in Canada against Iga Swiatek.

Rybakina will try this way to fight for a new tournament over the weekend. Whatever happens, will arrive with the ranking homework done at the WTA Finals next week, the great objective that remains ahead of him and where he will try to revalidate the 2025 title.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.