While Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Aryna Sabalenka continue their campaigns at the US Open, Elena Rybakina is closing in on a milestone that could bring their pursuit of the World No. 1 ranking at the tournament to an end. The Kazakhstani star needs just one more victory to secure the top spot, with her dominant run in New York showing no signs of slowing down.
After reaching the US Open quarterfinals for the first time in her career, Rybakina addressed the possibility of becoming the new World No. 1 and shared her thoughts on the opportunity ahead.
Elena Rybakina One Step Away From Becoming the WTA World No. 1 at the US Open
Rybakina is enjoying the most successful stretch of her career to date. After a rather forgettable Grand Slam season last year, the player found her rhythm during the final stages of 2025. She captured the WTA 500 title in Ningbo, securing the final qualification spot for the WTA Finals, before going on to stun the field at the season-ending tournament and claim her maiden year-end title.
Rybakina carried that momentum into 2026, capturing her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open before reaching the final at Indian Wells. She added another WTA 500 title on clay in Stuttgart, although the remainder of the clay and grass swing proved less fruitful.
However, Rybakina made a convincing return to the American hard courts, reaching the final in Toronto before advancing to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati. Now, she has carried that impressive form into the US Open, putting herself firmly in contention for the biggest ranking milestone of her career.
Having missed out on several earlier opportunities to claim the World No. 1 ranking, the 27-year-old now finds herself within touching distance of the summit. Following her quarterfinal breakthrough, she addressed the possibility in her on-court interview, saying:
“Well, of course I want it. I don’t know anyone who won’t wish this, but yeah, definitely that’s one of my goals, and I try to approach the same way.”
Her run to the final eight has been virtually flawless. She has not dropped a set en route. Following victories against Thea Frodin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and Yuliia Starodubtseva, she made light work of two-time champion Naomi Osaka on Monday, September 7.
Rybakina has now set up a sixth career meeting with Zheng Qinwen, who stunned Iga Świątek with a sensational performance to storm into the quarterfinals as a qualifier. “Try to do everything I can, fight till the end in my next match, and let’s see what’s going to happen,” she said.
With a 4-1 advantage in their rivalry, Elena Rybakina has plenty of reason to feel confident ahead of her latest battle with the reigning Olympic champion. “If I serve well as I did today, I think I have all the chances. So yeah, again, I try my best, and hopefully it’s going to go my way.”
Just weeks ago, Rybakina’s US Open campaign appeared to be in serious jeopardy after she retired from her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Świątek with a left ankle injury. After her 6-1, 6-4 win against Osaka, she said in her press conference, “I never want to miss the tournaments, and no matter where I go, I want to win.
“Seeing day by day that I’m having good progress with my foot, I straight away said that I’m going to try and play (at the US Open).”
“So it was no doubt about this. No. 1 ranking is, of course, one of the goals, but I think the main focus for me, for the team, is to win the titles, and then the ranking will follow. We go match by match, but obviously we want to win the titles and tournament. That’s, I would say, the main goal.”
Elena Rybakina is bidding for her third Grand Slam crown after triumphs at Wimbledon in 2022 and Melbourne earlier this year. Meanwhile, a place in the US Open semifinals would be enough to crown her the new World No. 1, leaving Sabalenka, Pegula, and Gauff unable to overtake her even if they win the title.
