Rybakina’s push for the world number one ranking started at the end of 2025.
After losing to Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open last October, Rybakina took the Ningbo Open title one week later before beating Sabalenka to win the season-ending WTA Finals.
She carried that momentum into 2026, getting the better of Sabalenka again but this time in a major final. She beat her fellow big server in three competitive sets to win the Australian Open – her second Slam title almost four years after her first at Wimbledon.
Since then, Sabalenka has come out on top in their Indian Wells final and Miami Open semi-final, but Rybakina took the Stuttgart title on clay as Sabalenka’s form fluctuated.
After disappointing early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, Rybakina reached the final in Toronto, losing in straight sets to Iga Swiatek.
Rybakina’s quest to overtake long-time rankings leader Sabalenka suffered another setback when she was forced to retire injured from her Cincinnati Open quarter-final against Swiatek.
Rybakina later revealed that the left ankle problem, which hindered her movement and prevented her pushing off properly when serving, had been “bothering me for a long period of time” but was something she felt she had “under control”.
Speaking before the US Open, Rybakina admitted her preparation “wasn’t great” as she was unable to train for much of the week leading into the tournament.
However, that did not stop her from becoming world number one and winning the event.