“I don’t think about it that much”: Elena Rybakina plays down World No. 1 race at Wimbledon 2026
WTASunday, 28 June 2026 at 20:30
Elena Rybakina arrives at Wimbledon with a live mathematical pathway to becoming World No. 1 for the first time in her career, adding an additional layer of significance to her return to a tournament she previously won in 2022. The 2-time Grand Slam champion, enters SW19 in a position where a deep run could directly translate into a climb to the top of the rankings.
The current landscape of the WTA rankings places Aryna Sabalenka under pressure to defend a significant number of points after reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2025. Rybakina, by contrast, has fewer points to defend, having exited at the fourth round last year, which creates a relatively narrow projected gap heading into the fortnight.
At present, the difference between both players is estimated at around 300 ranking points under equal-round exit scenarios, meaning the balance could shift quickly depending on performance in London. This structure leaves multiple possible ranking outcomes open throughout the tournament.
Despite the external implications, Rybakina’s recent grass-court form has been inconsistent, with a 1–2 record so far in the 2026 season, making her early rounds at Wimbledon particularly relevant for both momentum and ranking progression.
Ranking scenario and competitive mindset
Rybakina addressed the possibility of becoming World No. 1 during Wimbledon, but made clear that it is not shaping her preparation strategy or daily focus. Instead, she emphasised a step-by-step approach built around performance consistency rather than ranking calculations.
“Well, that would be amazing, but I honestly don’t think about it that much. My previous results were not as good as I wanted, and I think it is important for me now to try to improve from each match and just take it one at a time.”
The ranking scenario remains open across several permutations. A quarterfinal run combined with an early exit for Sabalenka could be sufficient for Rybakina to close the gap. Reaching the semifinals or final would further increase her chances, while a title run would guarantee the World No. 1 position regardless of other results.
Scenarios table - Ranking Points
| Round result | [2] Rybakina (8,023) | [1] Sabalenka (8320) | Points per round |
| R1 | 8,033 | 8,330 | 10 pts |
| R2 | 8,093 | 8,390 | 70 pts |
| R3 | 8,153 | 8,450 | 130 pts |
| R16 | 8,263 | 8,560 | 240 pts |
| QF | 8,453 | 8,750 | 430 pts |
| SF | 8,803 | 9,100 | 780 pts |
| Final | 9,323 | 9,620 | 1300 pts |
| Champion | 10,023 | 10,320 | 2000 pts |
Grass preparation, training context and tactical adjustments
Beyond ranking discussions, Rybakina also highlighted her preparation process on grass, including recent training sessions on Court One alongside Mirra Andreeva, the reigning French Open champion. The session included conditions such as a closed roof and the use of on-court microphones, part of a growing trend in televised practice environments.
“Yeah, it felt really nice, and the roof was closed, which is also good to try. With the mic, it was my first experience. It was a bit weird because you can hear how you breathe out, but I felt like I was playing even better with it.”
Her adaptation to grass remains a key performance factor. Given her height and natural baseline power, maintaining low positioning and early control in rallies is essential on faster surfaces where timing windows are reduced.
“Physically, we try to stay low even outside the court, we work on that, and the same applies on shots. Here it is important to be aggressive in the first few shots and take the opportunity.”
“We have been working on it, and I also had some time after the French Open, so hopefully we did a good job. We will see in this tournament. It is all about physical preparation first and then, of course, adjusting on court.”
Potential path for Rybakina at Wimbledon
First Round: Lois Boisson (No. 154)
Second Round: Elena-Gabriela Ruse (No. 105), Caty McNally (No. 50)
Third Round: Elise Mertens (No. 26)
Fourth Round: Diana Shnaider (No. 16), Katie Boulter (No. 59)
Quarterfinals: Amanda Anisimova (No. 6), Linda Noskova (No. 10)
Semifinals: Iga Świątek (No. 3), Elina Svitolina (No. 8), Marta Kostyuk (No. 13)
Final: Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1), Mirra Andreeva (No. 5), Coco Gauff (No. 7)
Review habits and performance reference points
Rybakina also described her use of video analysis as part of her preparation process, particularly when trying to correct dips in form or recover previous performance levels.
“I do watch some videos of moments where I played well. If something is not working now, it is always good to go back and see what I did before. Not necessarily when I won the title, but maybe from a year ago or moments where I did something better, just to see improvement. We always try to watch videos and analyse.”
This analytical approach complements her more process-driven mindset regarding rankings. With both performance and mathematical scenarios open at Wimbledon, her trajectory through the draw will determine whether the No. 1 opportunity remains theoretical or becomes realistic as the tournament progresses.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- In case you 'Americans' haven't heard: ESPN just screwed you out of Wimbledon coverage in the USA!! ESPN will offer ONE FREE MATCH PER DAY. If you want to see anything else "marketing" department mistake-makers think you will fork over $39.00 for a subscription to watch Wimbledon.
mandoist28-06-2026 - This child is just too damn fragile.. stupse!Rapunzel28-06-2026
- Muchova owned Osaka before any hint of "injury". We all saw what we saw.mandoist27-06-2026
- Here's an idea! Media get your "journilism" credentials in order before attempting to actually be a Journalist. Then decide, 'Do I want to be a sensationalist love interest writer for people magazine'? Or, 'Do I want to be sensible and write about the actual sport and its athletes without making things worse for them for no good F-ing reason other than write filler'? This Serena bullshit, Iga's mental health intrusions, all of this crap is lowering the bar... even for this rag.mandoist27-06-2026
- Condescending Collins and her Elitist pal Williams need to go away... for good.mandoist25-06-2026
- This way she can continue her part-time unserious nonsense, withdraw from Wimbledon if it's too hot... and still keep her Sponsor$ Stop wasting everyone's time.mandoist25-06-2026
- Well said Ajila. Thank you for not being afraid to tell it like it is!! Hopefully your colleagues, their teams, and others will grow a set of real balls and FINALLY take WTA & ITIA to task for their varying degrees of treatment and mistakes. For all the good they do -- it only takes one poorly orchestrated in-house decision to ruin what little reputation they possess.mandoist24-06-2026
- That was extreme bullshit for Pliskova to say such senseless things! Perhaps an experience like Petra Kvitova went through, when an unkown person attacked her at home, might give Pliskova a bit of enlightenment before stating such ignorance? If ITIA wants to play cops-and-robbers they had better wear badges, ID's, and so. There's absolutely no need for intimidation; something I have witnessed at tourneys from a two of these people acting tough and gruff behind the scenes. Again, it's a systemic problem in every situation when these entities are accountable to no one but themselves.mandoist24-06-2026
- UPDATE: Note how the tennis commentators have apparently been afraid to take a stand on Vondrousova's unfair treatment. Nary a word at all. Players are reticent to speak out too strongly as well. Why? Because the WTA / ITIA Dictatorship will find a way to censure you... and, as we have witnessed, even send their bought-and-paid-for law firms after you.mandoist24-06-2026
- Wimbledon's "body count" is now at 16 Withdrawals. Plus their maltreatment of Vondrousova makes it 17 Total.mandoist23-06-2026
Loading