World No. Rybakina became world No. 1 for the first time last month after winning the US Open, replacing Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings. She ensured she will finish 2026 as the world No. 1 after a comfortable opening-round win at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, brushing aside world No. 67 Putintseva in just 70 minutes.
1 Elena Rybakina hailed her “amazing achievement” after securing the year-end top ranking with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over fellow Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in Japan on Thursday.
The achievement caps a remarkable year in which Rybakina also won the Australian Open in January and increased her Grand Slam tally to three titles. “I’m not a huge fan, but he is, so I know a little bit. We were getting some cards, opening them and trying to find some important ones.” (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
“Because of my coach, I am following Pokemon cards a little bit now,” she said.
Rybakina also revealed she has recently taken an interest in collecting Pokemon cards. I’m happy that, with last week and with today’s win, I made it possible to secure No. “I was just trying to pick my spot and I think today, with a closed roof and a combination of the balls and the court, I felt better serving. “I’m glad it worked today.
“It means a lot. “So many great players and we are all really close to each other. The Moscow-born Rybakina has already secured her place at next month’s season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells. She arrived in Tokyo after winning her fourth title of the season at the Ningbo Open in China last week. Rybakina struck six aces against Putintseva and saved the only break point she faced. Rybakina will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals, having beaten her in last week’s Ningbo Open final. Rybakina needed just one more victory this year to ensure that world No.
This is something we worked for with the team,” said the 27-year-old. 1 at the end of the year. 1 ranking for first time ahead of WTA Finals Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (Image: REUTERS) Earlier reporting noted: The Kazakh eased past Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 at the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo to seal the top spot more than a week before the season-ending WTA Finals. 2 Aryna Sabalenka could no longer overtake her in the rankings. Fernandez booked her place in the quarter-finals by defeating Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-6(8).
“It’s an amazing achievement and hopefully we can continue this way next year,” she added. “Today the serve definitely helped me in the important moments,” she said.
Earlier reporting noted: Elena Rybakina clinches year-end world No. Earlier reporting noted: Rybakina will next take on Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in a rematch of the Ningbo Open final.
