ASTANA — Elena Rybakina has added another distinction to a landmark season, topping the Women’s Tennis Association’s 2026 prize-money standings after becoming the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach the No. 1 singles ranking, according to the WTA.
Photo credit: US Open
Rybakina has earned over $10 million in prize money this season, according to WTA figures, putting her nearly $2.8 million ahead of second-placed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, with Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova in third.
The biggest boost came in New York, where Rybakina won her first U.S. Open title on Sept. 12, defeating two-time defending champion Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. The victory earned her a record $5.5 million in prize money and 2,000 ranking points.
Rybakina officially became the PIF WTA World No. 1 on Sept. 14, becoming the 30th woman in WTA history to reach the top spot and the first man or woman from Kazakhstan to do so.
Photo credit: US Open
The achievement is especially significant for Rybakina because the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation played a decisive role in the early stages of her professional career. Speaking to the WTA after her U.S. Open victory, she recalled that she had been considering offers from U.S. universities when the federation noticed her at a tournament and backed her.
“Kazakhstan has given me so much. The opportunity to try myself in the professional tour, it was a big decision for me and my family. Somehow, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation saw me on one of the tournaments where I had a good run. They believed in me, and a lot of other people in Kazakhstan believed in me and helped me on my way. I’m very grateful. It’s a history for the whole countr, and I just can’t wait to go there and celebrate with all the people who follow me, who love me, and most importantly, people who believed in me from the very beginning.” she said.
The 2026 season has been Rybakina’s most successful to date. She has won the Australian Open and U.S. Open, and reached the finals at Indian Wells and Toronto. She is the first singles player to qualify for the 2026 WTA Finals, where she will defend her title.
Rybakina’s rise also marks a broader milestone for Kazakhstan’s tennis development. The WTA noted that, as her career has progressed, more children across Kazakhstan have begun taking up the sport and attending new tennis facilities.
“I always say there are so many kids that are coming to the tennis facilities. They all want to play tennis, which is a great thing. I just want to celebrate such an achievement for the country all together,” she said.
