ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has reached the U.S. Open final for the first time in her career and secured the world No. 1 ranking, becoming the first Kazakhstan’s singles player to top the WTA rankings.
Kazakhstan’s tennis player Elena Rybakina. Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
Rybakina defeated American Coco Gauff 3:6, 6:4, 6:4 in the semifinal, with the match lasting two hours and eight minutes. The 27-year-old Kazakh athlete recorded five aces, two double faults and converted three of five break-point opportunities.
Rybakina to face Sabalenka in US Open final
Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the final. Regardless of the outcome, Rybakina will become the new world No. 1 when the WTA rankings are updated on Sept. 14, reported the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
Her rise to the top marks a historic achievement for Kazakhstan. Rybakina secured the top ranking after reaching the U.S. Open quarterfinals, where she defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen 3:6, 6:1, 6:4. The result ended Sabalenka’s 99-week run at the top of the women’s singles rankings. Rybakina subsequently moved past Sabalenka in the live rankings after reaching the semifinal.
Asian swing could shape the battle for No. 1
The U.S. Open final will determine the size of Rybakina’s lead over Sabalenka heading into the next stage of the season, but she already holds a favorable position in terms of ranking points to be defended during the upcoming Asian swing.
The key tournaments in the coming weeks include the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open and the WTA 500 Ningbo Open.
In Beijing, Rybakina has relatively few points to defend, having earned nearly 130 points from an early exit last season. Sabalenka did not compete in Beijing last year and therefore has no points to defend, meaning every match she wins would add points to her ranking total.
The situation is reversed in Wuhan. Rybakina is defending 215 points from last year’s quarterfinal appearance, while Sabalenka, the defending champion, will need to defend 1,000 points, according to the Kazinform news agency.
Ningbo presents another important difference. Rybakina is defending 500 points after winning the tournament last year, while Sabalenka did not compete there and has no points on the line.
Based on the points due to expire during the Asian swing, Rybakina would enter the China tournaments with a minimum advantage of 256 points over Sabalenka, according to the calculations provided.
The Asian series could therefore become an important stage in determining whether Rybakina can consolidate her position at the top of the WTA rankings after making history at the U.S. Open.
Rybakina currently has 13 WTA singles titles to her name. The U.S. Open final against Sabalenka will offer her an opportunity to add a first U.S. Open title to her collection while completing an unprecedented rise to the top of women’s tennis for Kazakhstan.
Zhalgasbay reaches junior doubles semifinals
Kazakhstan also recorded another strong result at the U.S. Open, with junior player Damir Zhalgasbay advancing to the semifinals of the junior boys’ doubles tournament.
From L to R: Damir Zhalgasbay and American player Safir Azam. Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.
Zhalgasbay, Kazakhstan’s No. 2 junior, is competing alongside American Safir Azam. The pair defeated Puerto Rico’s Yannick Alvarez and American Ryan Kozad 6:3, 6:7 (14:16), 10:6 in the quarterfinals.
The match lasted one hour and 22 minutes. Zhalgasbay and Azam recorded five aces, four double faults and converted three of six break-point opportunities.
In the semifinal, they will face the winners of the quarterfinal between the American duo of Tanishka Konduri and Marcela Lataca and the top-seeded pairing of Brazil’s Guto Miguel and Slovenia’s Ziga Sesko.
With Rybakina competing for the women’s singles title and Zhalgasbay advancing in the junior doubles draw, Kazakhstan remains represented in the closing stages of the 2026 U.S. Open.
