Elena Rybakina Rises to World No. 1 in WTA Live Rankings
Astana, The Gulf Observer: Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has moved to the top of the WTA live rankings ahead of the 2026 US Open, strengthening her position in the race for the women’s world No. 1 ranking.
Rybakina currently leads the live standings with 7,911 points. She has only 230 points to defend at the US Open, putting her in a strong position to secure the top ranking when the official standings are updated.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the current WTA Tour leader, has dropped to second in the live rankings with 6,585 points. As the defending US Open champion, Sabalenka will have 1,990 points to defend at the tournament.
American Jessica Pegula occupies third place with 6,495 points and is set to defend 770 points at the US Open.
Rybakina’s latest rise follows a strong 2026 season and places her in contention to become the latest player to reach the summit of women’s tennis.
The 2026 US Open is therefore set to play a crucial role in determining the official WTA rankings, with Rybakina holding a significant advantage in terms of points to defend compared with Sabalenka.
