Elena Rybakina Had No Childhood Dream of Becoming a Tennis Star. Now She Is World No. 1

Elena Rybakina never dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player as a child. She initially played tennis with friends and gradually realised that she was good at the sport. It was only at the age of 17 that she began seriously considering a professional career.

Now, that same player is on the verge of making history.

Rybakina defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China 3–6, 6–1, 6–4 in the US Open women’s singles quarterfinal to reach the semifinals. After a 2-hour-14-minute battle, she not only secured a place in the final four but also changed the history of Kazakhstan tennis.

Next week, Aryna Sabalenka will no longer be at the top of the WTA rankings. After 99 weeks, Rybakina is set to become the new world No. 1—the first Kazakh player in women’s singles history to reach the summit.

But despite the historic achievement, Rybakina is not allowing herself to become distracted. Her focus remains firmly on winning the US Open title.

Rybakina Wants the Trophy, Not Just the No. 1 Ranking

Rybakina has already won two Grand Slam titles, lifting the Australian Open and Wimbledon trophies once each. Her best result at the French Open is a quarterfinal appearance, while this year marks her best-ever US Open run after reaching the semifinals.

That makes the possibility of winning her first US Open title very real.

For Rybakina, however, the world No. 1 ranking is currently just another number. Her main objective at every tournament is to win the title.

She knows the significance of becoming the world’s top-ranked player, but believes its true value will become clearer after her career ends. Looking back one day and remembering that she became world No. 1 and won major tournaments will, she says, be something special.

The Girl Who Never Dreamed of Going Pro

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Rybakina’s story is that professional tennis was never her childhood dream.

She started playing casually with friends and eventually discovered her ability. At 17, she decided to pursue the sport professionally.

She simply kept playing without knowing how far the journey would take her.

That journey has already brought her two Grand Slam titles. Now, it has taken her to the top of world tennis.

Sabalenka’s 99-Week Reign Is Coming to an End

Rybakina’s rise also marks the end of Aryna Sabalenka’s long reign at the top of the rankings.

The Belarusian star spent 99 consecutive weeks as world No. 1 and 107 weeks overall at the summit, putting her among the longest-reigning players in WTA history.

Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff were all involved in the race to replace Sabalenka at the top.

But the rankings equation depended heavily on Rybakina’s progress in New York. By defeating Zheng Qinwen and reaching the semifinals, she eliminated the uncertainty.

Coco Gauff Awaits in the Semifinal

Rybakina will face fourth seed Coco Gauff in the semifinal.

The American star reached the final four after surviving a dramatic battle against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. Gauff lost the opening set 6–2 in just 26 minutes and found herself under pressure again in the second.

However, she saved two match points and won a tense 16-point tiebreak 9–7 to force a deciding set.

She eventually won the final set 6–2 to book her place in the semifinals.

A Rare Grand Slam Achievement

The US Open has also produced a rare milestone in women’s tennis.

For the first time since Wimbledon 2009, the top four seeds at a Grand Slam have all reached the semifinals.

The final four are top seed Aryna Sabalenka, second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth seed Coco Gauff.

Even if Sabalenka wins the US Open for a third consecutive year, however, she cannot reclaim the world No. 1 ranking. Rybakina has already secured the top spot.

Rybakina Overcame Injury to Find Her Best Form

Rybakina dropped out of the WTA top 10 around last year’s US Open after a difficult period affected by injuries, health problems and inconsistent performances.

This year, however, she has bounced back in impressive fashion.

She won the Australian Open and Stuttgart titles while also finishing runner-up at Indian Wells and Toronto.

Her preparation for the US Open was not straightforward. Just 12 days before the tournament, she retired from her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek because of injury and was unable to train for seven days.

There were doubts about how her body would respond in New York.

Those doubts have now been answered. Rybakina is through to the US Open semifinals and is one victory away from another major milestone in her career.

‘Belief in Yourself and Hard Work’

Tennis is becoming increasingly popular among young players in Kazakhstan, and many children now look up to Rybakina.

Asked about the key to her success and her influence on the sport in the country, Rybakina offered a simple answer: belief in yourself and hard work.

The player who never dreamed of becoming a professional tennis star as a child is now standing on the verge of history.

She has secured the world No. 1 ranking. Now, there is only one thing occupying her mind—the US Open trophy.