He won 2025 WTA Finalsbut on November 7, 2026 he withdrew from this year’s edition In Indian Wells with a medical problem. He will still finish 2026 as world No.1.
Why Elena Rybakina exited the 2026 WTA Finals?
The WTA announced her withdrawal on the eve of the tournament, citing a medical issue. She was to open Group 1 against Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, and Marta Kostyuk took her place.
“My body is just not physically ready to compete,” Rybakina said in a statement. He will rest at home and prepare for the 2027 season, following a 2026 season in which he went 54-14 and won four titles.
He already said that at the US Open For 2027, his priority was health. “I’m not getting any younger,” he said.
When did Elena Rybakina become world no.1?
He secured the top spot at the 2026 US Open where he beat Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinalsending Aryna Sabalenka’s run of 99 weeks at #1. She became the 30th world No. 1 since the WTA rankings began in 1975 when the rankings were released on September 14.
“It’s just a number now,” he said. In his first match at the highest peak in Beijing, No. 118 Alina Charaeva beat her 3-6, 6-4, 6-3making Rybakina only the second player after Naomi Osaka to lose her first match as a No.1.
How many Grand Slam titles has Elena Rybakina won?
Three. He won Wimbledon 2022defeating Ons Jabeur 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 in the final to become the first Kazakh player to win a major.
At the 2026 Australian Open, he He defeated Iga Sviatek with a score of 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals, then came back from 0-3 down in the final set to defeat Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final. Three years ago Sabalenka had beat him 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 In the 2023 final.
At the 2026 US Open, where he had never advanced past the fourth round, he Won 6-1, 6-4 against Osakathen Koko Gauf – 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Sabalenka – 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final. Only Steffi Graf, in 1995, had previously beaten a reigning world No. 1 in two Grand Slam finals in the same year.
“Honestly, it’s hard to find the words right now.” he said in court. “This atmosphere is just incredible and it doesn’t feel real yet.”
Can Elena Rybakina retire at the Grand Slam?
He needs Roland Garros, the only major where he has never reached the quarterfinals. He reached the last eight there in 2021 and then beating Serena Williams in the 16th final.
In 2026, as the second generation, he lost in the second round Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva, who won 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Has Elena Rybakina won the WTA Finals?
Yes, in 2025 in Riyadh. After qualifying in last seed, she went undefeated throughout the week and defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (0) in the final to earn a record prize of $5.235 million.
In 2024, he previously lost his first two matches in Riyadh Defeating Sabalenka 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in its final group game.
What is Elena Rybakina’s record against Aryna Sabalenka?
Sabalenka leads 10-8 after the 2026 US Open final. Rybakina won both 2026 Grand Slam finals, but was defeated by Sabalenka. Indian Wells final: 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)and in Miami semifinals: 6-4, 6-3.
How many titles has Elena Rybakina won?
15. He first came to Bucharest in 2019, then Hobart in 2020 and Wimbledon in 2022. He won in Indian Wells and Rome in 2023, and in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart in 2024.
In 2025 he won in Strasbourg, Ningbo for its 10th title and the WTA Finals. In 2026, he won the Australian Open, Stuttgart, where he She won against Karolina Muchova with a score of 7-5, 6-1The US Open and Ningbo where he She defeated Leila Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 World No. 1 for the first title.
Who is Elena Rybakina’s coach?
Stefano Vukov, who coached him from 2019 to the 2022 Wimbledon title. They split in August 2024, and the WTA subsequently suspended her for a possible breach of its code of conduct. Rybakina said he was never cruel to her.
During that time he worked Goran Ivanishevich until the 2025 Australian Open, then with Davide Sanguinetti. They reunited after Vukov was eliminated in August 2025. “I think he’s a big asset because he knows me better than anyone,” he said in Melbourne.
Why is Elena Rybakina called the Ice Queen?
Fans and media have dubbed her the “Ice Queen” since 2023 for her composure on the court and almost emotionless reactions, even after the biggest scores. He describes it as a tactical shield that prevents opponents from sensing any waning of confidence.
“The heart was definitely beating very fast. Even maybe my face wasn’t visible, but there was a lot of emotion inside,” he said after the 2026 Australian Open final. His service which compared to Novak DjokovicIt gave him 47 tournament aces in Melbourne.
What injuries did Elena Rybakina receive?
Her body has often interrupted her seasons. 2024 he’s out of the US Open before his second round game and missed the Asian swing with a back injury.
In 2026, he retired in Dubai in February and in the quarterfinals in Cincinnati against Sviatek in August. He said he could not walk without pain In the days following Cincinnati, three weeks before winning the US Open.
Elena Rybakina is Russian.
He was born in Russia but has represented Kazakhstan since July 2018, after the Kazakhstani federation offered him sporting and financial support when he turned professional. This allowed him to play at Wimbledon in 2022 when Russian and Belarusian players were banned.
“I didn’t choose where I was born. People believed in me. Kazakhstan supported me so much,” he said after the 2022 final.
How old is Elena Rybakina and how tall?
Elena Rybakina was born on June 17, 1999 in Moscow, which makes her 27 years old. He is 1.84 m (6 ft) tall. her WTA profile.
As a child, she also did gymnastics and ice skating with her sister, before becoming too tall and devoting herself to tennis.
When did Elena Rybakina turn professional?
She started playing at the age of six and played her first ITF match at the age of 15 in Turkey in 2014. She turned professional in 2017, playing her first WTA tournament in Moscow, and made a name for herself in 2018 by defeating world No. 7 Caroline Garcia in St. Petersburg.
2020 he told Tennis Majors that his goal was to become world No. 1. He is on Instagram as lenaribakina.