Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Elena Rybakina Wins US Open, Becomes World No. 1
Elena Rybakina is a professional tennis player who represents Kazakhstan.
She won the 2026 US Open by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
This was her third Grand Slam tournament victory.
Her earlier major wins came at Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2026.
She was born in Moscow, Russia, but began representing Kazakhstan in 2018.
Kazakhstan’s tennis federation helped support her training and travel.
During the 2026 US Open, she became the first player from Kazakhstan to reach world No.
1.
She has won 13 WTA singles titles overall.
The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament she has not won.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win the 2026 US Open women’s singles title.
The victory gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam title, following Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2026.
She became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach world No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
Rybakina was born in Moscow in 1999 and switched her sporting nationality from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2018.
Her career also includes 13 WTA singles titles, the 2025 WTA Finals championship, and WTA 1000 wins at Indian Wells and Rome.
- Who
- Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2026 US Open women’s singles final.
- What
- Rybakina won the US Open and became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach world No. 1.
- When
- She won the US Open in September 2026 and reached world No. 1 during the tournament.
- Where
- The final was played in New York; Rybakina was born in Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- She reached the top ranking after her US Open run, including a quarter-final victory over Qinwen Zheng.
- US Open final
- Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
- Grand Slam titles
- Three: Wimbledon 2022, Australian Open 2026, and US Open 2026.
- World ranking
- She became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach WTA world No. 1.
- Date of birth
- 17 June 1999.
- Place of birth
- Moscow, Russia.
- Nationality switch
- She began representing Kazakhstan in 2018 with support from the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
- Career titles
- 13 WTA singles titles.