The WTA confirmed on Wednesday that the 27-year-old will officially take over the top ranking when the updated standings are released following the US Open on Monday, Sept. 14.
Rybakina will become the 30th woman in tennis history to reach the No. 1 position. She will also make history as the first player from Kazakhstan, male or female, to claim the top spot in the rankings.
The race for No. 1 heading into the US Open featured several contenders. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were also in the running to replace Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings.
However, results at the US Open on Wednesday in New York confirmed that Rybakina had done enough to move ahead of Sabalenka and secure the prestigious position.
Sabalenka has held the No. 1 ranking since October 2024 and has spent 107 weeks at the top. That total ranks 10th on the all-time list.
For Rybakina, reaching the summit represents the fulfillment of a long-held ambition.
"Becoming the WTA World No.1 is something I've dreamed about since I was a young girl, it means so much to me," Rybakina said. "I'm so proud of this moment. I want to thank my whole team for their support and being able to celebrate this achievement with me."
Her rise to the top comes after an impressive 12 months on the WTA Tour. One of the biggest highlights was her unbeaten run at the 2025 WTA Finals, where she captured the championship and collected a record $5.235 million prize. At the time, the payout was the largest single prize in the history of women's sports.
Rybakina has also enjoyed success at the biggest tournaments in tennis. In January, she claimed the second Grand Slam title of her career by winning the 2026 Australian Open.
She followed that achievement with a clay-court triumph at the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in April.
Rybakina also ended the 2025 season on a high note by winning the WTA 250 AUX Ningbo Open.
Her consistent results across different surfaces have now propelled her to the pinnacle of women's tennis. With the No. 1 ranking secured, Rybakina enters a new chapter of her career as Kazakhstan's first world No. 1.
