Elena Rybakina is assured to complete the 12 months because the WTA’s primary after defeating Yulia Putintseva within the Tokyo Open quarterfinals.
The Kazakh defeated her fellow Kazakhstan native in straight units (6-2,6-3), which means her factors complete for the 12 months is now untouchable for her closest competitor, Aryna Sabalenka.
After claiming the Ningbo title final week, Rybakina now has 4 titles in 2026. She is undoubtedly the favorite to seize the WTA 500 Tokyo title, which is able to add to a stellar 12 months of success for the world primary.
In an on-court interview, Rybakina stated, “It means lots (to be world primary). That is one thing we labored for with the group.”
“So many nice gamers, and we’re all actually shut to one another, and I’m joyful that now, with final week and at present’s win, I made it potential to safe primary on the finish of the 12 months.”
“It’s an incredible achievement, and hopefully we are able to proceed this manner subsequent 12 months.”
Rybakina continues to go from energy to energy. After the match in Tokyo, she’s going to look to defend her WTA Finals title at Indian Wells, beginning November eighth.
On high of the tennis world
The place gamers like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have faltered, Rybakina has constantly carried out, claiming two Grand Slams and hauls of factors throughout different tournaments.
She began 2026 in the easiest way potential. Profitable the Australian Open defeating Sabalenka within the ultimate to assert her second slam. 4 years after claiming her maiden slam at Wimbledon in 2022.
The Australian Open champion claimed her four-hundredth profession victory within the Qatar Open whereas reaching the quarter-finals of the occasion.
A robust displaying in Indian Wells gained her a large number of factors. She reached the ultimate within the Californian Desert however misplaced to Sabalenka within the ultimate, who went on to finish the Sunshine Double.
Clay season began fantastically for Rybakina, claiming her second title of 2026 by profitable the Stuttgart Open. She defeated Karolina Muchova within the WTA 500 match. She can also face Muchova on the WTA Finals.
Rybakina struggled in Roland Garros, however her closest opponents for the primary rating additionally fell to early defeats within the competitors.
The 27-year-old is often a grasp on grass however suffered a heap of early-round exits, which hampered her probabilities of changing into the world primary after Wimbledon.
The American-Laborious-Court docket Swing was the place Rybakina’s type reached new heights. Swiatek’s type was all-time low, eliminating her probabilities of catching Sabalenka. The Belarusian was additionally actually off form going into the month.
Rybakina flew by means of the rounds on the Canadian Masters 1000 however suffered from a number of accidents, main her to retire within the ultimate.
There was large concern in Rybakina’s camp that she had suffered an Achilles damage, which may’ve left her out of competing for her future successes.
Fortunately for Rybakina, the scare was manageable however hampered her coaching for the US Open.
Regardless of this, the world primary dominated her opponents on the best way to the ultimate, the place she outshone and pissed off Sabalenka. Claiming her second Grand Slam win over Sabalenka in 2026 and reaching her dream of changing into world primary.
Momentum is on the facet of the Kazakh; nevertheless, 2027 will pose a brand new problem for Rybakina because the goal is on her again, and she’s going to defend two Grand Slams and lots of different high-point-scoring match runs.
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