Elena Rybakina has secured the year-end world number one ranking in women’s singles after defeating Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
The victory ensures that the Kazakhstan player will finish the 2026 season at the top of the rankings, capping a successful year in which she claimed the Australian Open and US Open titles.
Rybakina moved to the summit of the world rankings for the first time during her US Open campaign in September. A quarter-final win over China’s Zheng Qinwen confirmed her rise to the top, before she went on to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
The 27-year-old had also beaten Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year, establishing herself as one of the dominant players on the women’s tour.
Rybakina entered the Tokyo tournament on the back of her Ningbo Open triumph last week, which marked her fourth title of the season. After receiving a first-round bye, she delivered a strong performance against Putintseva, recording six aces and 25 winners.
She will now take on Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals. Rybakina defeated the former US Open runner-up 6-2, 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final last week.
The Kazakh’s next tournament will be the season-ending WTA Finals, scheduled to take place in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15, where she will look to defend her singles title.
