So Close, So Far Away – Tennis Now

Elena Rybakina opens up on her hunt for the No. 1 rating.

Richard PagliaroAugust 13, 20262 minute learn

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 13, 2026
Photograph credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport

Elena Rybakina can see the summit. 

World No. 2 Rybakina isn’t fairly prepared to achieve the height but.  

Persevering with her hunt for her first WTA 1000 title in three years and to supplant Aryna Sabalenka as world No. 1, a weary Rybakina got here up barely brief in Toronto tonight.

Former No. 1 Iga Swiatek stopped a weary Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to gather her twenty sixth profession championship and maiden Nationwide Financial institution Open crown.

Had Rybakina gained her first WTA 1000 title for the reason that 2023 Rome, she would have moved to inside 4 factors of surpassing Sabalenka for world No. 1. Because it stands now, Rybakina trails Sabalenka by 354 ranking points.

The Australian Open champion stated the highest spot feels so shut but so far-off as she’s been shut earlier than.

“It could imply positively loads [to be No. 1],” Rybakina stated. “I do know for me, even for those who say by the rating it’s shut, for me it nonetheless feels very far.

“So I’m not fascinated with it a lot. All of us nonetheless compete, so it doesn’t rely solely on me, additionally
how others are going to do.”

After all, Sabalenka is defending 2,000 rating factors for her US Open title later this month. Rybakina, a 2025 Cincinnati Open semifinalist, is defending 390 factors at Cincinnati and 240 factors on the US Open the place she misplaced to Marketa Vondrousova within the 2025 fourth spherical.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Rybakina stated rising up, No. 1 was past her wildest goals. Now, that the highest spot is inside attain, she sees it as an “superb” achievement.

“After I was younger I used to be not even, if we discuss as a child, I used to be not even considering that I’m going to be skilled taking part in at this stage,” Rybakina stated. “I believe I achieved quite a bit.

“I’m tremendous pleased. If I can do higher, superb, I strive my finest, and hopefully it occurs in the future.”