Elena Rybakina no. 1 became a reality last week after she captured the U.S. Open women’s singles title by defeating defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The 27-year-old, born in Moscow, now tops the women’s rankings, a position that caps a decade shaped by pivotal choices, including turning down college to pursue tennis full time.
Rybakina has said she faced a difficult decision at age 17. “I finished school and I had to decide if I should go to college,” she told the Women’s Tennis Association in 2020.
Her father urged further education due to financial strain and the risk of injury, noting the potential for a stronger education abroad. “I had offers to universities in America, but I didn’t even think about it because I wanted to keep playing. I had like 15 offers. My dad really wanted me to go,” she recalled. She ultimately chose the uncertainty of the tour, later reflecting that tennis itself enabled broader educational opportunities.
Elena Rybakina no. 1 follows a federation switch and record earnings
After committing to the professional path, Rybakina made another consequential move. In 2018 she switched from representing Russia to Kazakhstan, also changing her citizenship. Officials in Kazakhstan provided funding and support as the then-19-year-old sought to accelerate her career.
Progress came quickly. Rybakina climbed through the ITF Circuit and WTA qualifying events, closing 2019 at No. 36 for her first Top 100 finish and claiming her maiden WTA title in Bucharest. In 2020, only a year after hiring a private coach, she reached five WTA finals, the most of any player that season. She secured her first major crown at Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the Australian Open final in 2023.
Her momentum was matched by financial milestones. She ended last season by winning the 2025 WTA Finals undefeated, earning $5.235 million, which at the time was the largest single-event prize in women’s sports. Sponsorships with brands including Nike, Adidas, and Red Bull further amplified her profile and income.
This season has been her strongest. Earlier in the year she captured the Australian Open title, then added the U.S. Open to her resume. With the New York victory, she overtook Sabalenka to claim the No. 1 ranking, which the Belarusian had held for nearly two years.
According to Forbes, Rybakina ranks as the 10th highest-paid tennis player globally, with $11.4 million in on-court earnings and an additional $6 million off the court. Her U.S. Open title brought another $5.5 million in prize money. “Honestly, I didn’t expect [anything] like this coming from this tournament,” she said after the win, noting she had been managing an injury and had not previously found success in New York despite a decade of attempts.
Later this year she is slated to compete at the WTA Finals, aiming to reclaim the title. With two Grand Slams this season, a record-setting payout, and the world No. 1 ranking, her decision to bypass college has coincided with a rapid ascent that shows little sign of slowing.