“When I was a kid, I never thought that I was going to be a professional.”
- Elena 'Ice Queen' Rybakina
Elena Rybakina is set to make history as the first Kazakh player, male or female, to reach world No. 1 ranking after advancing to the 2026 US Open semi-finals. The 27-year-old defeated Qinwen Zheng in a three-set thriller to reach the last four and secure the top ranking, ending Aryna Sabalenka’s reign.
Rybakina is nicknamed the 'Ice Queen'. Those who have followed her career know she is a woman of few words. On the court, however, her racquet does the talking.
Her path to the top has been far from straightforward. She has faced questions and criticism over her perceived cold or unfriendly demeanour. Behind that quiet exterior is a player who has steadily built one of the strongest careers in women’s tennis.
From playing for fun to chasing a career
Born in Moscow, Rybakina made her professional debut at 15 in 2014. Tennis was little more than an after-school pastime in her early years, and she did not seriously consider a professional career until she was 17. “My choice of staying professional was at 17 years old, and this is where I believed that I can do well. Of course, I didn’t know how far I can come. But as a kid, I was just enjoying playing tennis after school, hanging out with the friends. It was just for fun,” Rybakina said after her win over Zheng.
Rybakina made her WTA Tour debut in October 2017 at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow and
in 2018 she switched allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan, gaining crucial financial support.
The move proved transformative. In January that year, she announced herself as a player to watch as a qualifier ranked outside the top 400, she defeated then-world No. 7 Caroline Garcia.
2019 was her breakthrough year. She won her first WTA title in Bucharest, entered the Top 100, and later reached the Top 50. She was also nominated for 2019 WTA Newcomer of the Year Award.
Steady progress followed in 2020 and 2021. But the breakthrough moment came in 2022, when she won Wimbledon after defeating Ons Jabeur. The title made many sit up and take notice of Rybakina and her capabilities.
She reached a second Grand Slam final at the 2023 Australian Open, broke into the Top 10, and won two WTA 1000 titles (Indian Wells and Rome). In 2024 she claimed three titles from five finals and qualified for the WTA Finals for a second time. She began 2025 as world No. 6, briefly slipped outside the Top 10, then recovered strongly. A semi-final in Montreal, the Ningbo Open title, and further strong results returned her to No. 6. She capped the year by winning the WTA Finals, defeating Sabalenka and finishing the season at No. 5.
The rise of a new No. 1
Rybakina carried that momentum into 2026. She defeated Sabalenka again to win her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and rose to world No. 3. Strong results at Indian Wells and a title in Stuttgart pushed her into the Top 2. Early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon were followed by a final in Toronto (lost to Iga Świątek).
With Sabalenka’s form fluctuating, the No. 1 ranking came into view. An ankle injury forced her to retire in the Cincinnati quarter-finals, raising doubts about her US Open participation. She arrived in New York short of preparation but determined.
“The first days when I came onsite, when we had to test the foot and everything, so it wasn’t easy,” she admitted. She knew reaching the semi-finals would secure the top ranking. After four straight-sets wins, she came from a set down to beat Zheng and book her place in the last four for the first time.
The victory confirmed she would replace Sabalenka, who had spent 99 consecutive weeks at No. 1. For Rybakina, the ranking remains secondary. “It’s just a number right now. My goal is to win the tournaments which I play. It’s an amazing achievement, but you know how quickly everything can change in tennis ranking-wise,” she said.
It’s not over yet
Rybakina will face Coco Gauff in the US Open semi-final. If she wins, she will meet either Sabalenka or Jessica Pegula in the final.
Since the 2025 US Open she has been one of the most consistent players on the Tour, reaching multiple finals and collecting more titles than any other player in that span. Her powerful serve remains a major weapon; she currently leads the WTA in aces in 2026.
While Rybakina has said she will fully appreciate the No. 1 ranking only after her career ends, the achievement is a landmark for her fans and for young players in Kazakhstan. From a teenager who never imagined turning professional to the world No. 1, Elena Rybakina’s journey is remarkable.
