Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina solidified her position as the top-ranked player in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings by defending her title at the Ningbo Open in China on October 26, 2026. Rybakina emerged victorious against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, winning the final match 6-2, 6-2.
With this win, Rybakina increased her ranking points from 9,196 to 9,501, extending her lead over Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who holds 7,550 points. The Ningbo Open, featuring a total singles prize pool of $1.206 million, awarded Rybakina $185,000 for her first-place finish.
Rybakina’s triumph in Ningbo is another milestone in her impressive career. Since turning professional in 2016, she has become one of the leading figures in women’s tennis, securing major victories such as Wimbledon in 2022, the WTA Finals in 2025, and both the Australian Open and US Open in 2026.
This latest achievement underscores Rybakina’s dominance on the international tennis circuit and her continued ascent in the sport’s elite rankings. As she maintains her top position, Rybakina’s career trajectory highlights her consistent performance and determination to remain a formidable competitor in women’s tennis.