Aryna Sabalenka, who is 27 years old, has lost the No. 1 ranking after nearly 100 weeks at the top, with Elena Rybakina taking over following a landmark US Open quarterfinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The WTA rankings began in 1975, and this latest change marks only the 30th woman to reach No. 1. For Sabalenka, it ends a long spell as the standard-bearer at the top of the women's game. For Rybakina, it is a major breakthrough built on one of the biggest wins of her career.
Rybakina takes control at Arthur Ashe Stadium
At Arthur Ashe Stadium in the US Open quarterfinals, Rybakina beat Qinwen Zheng 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to move into the semifinals and claim the ranking lead. The No. 2 seed had the edge after recovering from a slow start, and the result was enough to move her past Sabalenka in the standings.
That is a significant moment because Rybakina had also been in position to reach No. 1 in Cincinnati, only to retire injured in a quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek. This time, she completed the job and removed any doubt about the scale of the result.
What comes next for the new No. 1?
Rybakina now heads into the US Open semifinals, where she will face Coco Gauff. The ranking change adds another layer to the match, with the new No. 1 arriving in form and with momentum after beating Qinwen Zheng in New York.
For Sabalenka, the question now is how quickly she can respond after relinquishing top spot. For Rybakina, the challenge is different: she has the ranking, but the pressure at the top only gets heavier from here.
