“I try not to think about it”: Elena Rybakina addresses No. 1 opportunity after Sabalenka’s Toronto exit
WTAMonday, 10 August 2026 at 06:30
Elena Rybakina has moved within touching distance of Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA rankings after reaching the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open. The second seed in Toronto came back from two breaks down in the deciding set to defeat Liudmila Samsonova and continue her run, setting up a quarterfinal against either Naomi Osaka or Leylah Fernandez.
The result has gained even greater significance following Sabalenka’s elimination in the round of 16. Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated the world No. 1, leaving Sabalenka on 8,670 points. Rybakina has moved to 7,881 points after reaching the last eight, having defended half of the points she earned from her semifinal run at last year’s Canadian Open.
Rybakina can reduce the gap to just four points if she wins the title in Toronto. A championship would take the 2022 Wimbledon champion to 8,666 points, leaving her just four behind Sabalenka heading into Cincinnati. That would give Rybakina an exceptional opportunity to challenge for the No. 1 ranking during the North American hard-court swing.
The Kazakh arrives in Toronto with a strong record on the surface. She has won 42 of her last 50 hard-court matches over the past 52 weeks, including a 24-5 record in 2026. That stretch includes her Australian Open title and a run to the Indian Wells final, where she lost to Sabalenka, making the current ranking battle particularly significant as the two continue to trade results on hard courts.
Rybakina tries to keep the No. 1 race out of her mind
Rybakina has never reached No. 1, but Sabalenka’s early exit has suddenly made the possibility much more immediate. Even with the ranking gap reduced to less than 800 points, Rybakina said she does not want to allow the race to affect her approach in Toronto, particularly because she still believes there are elements of her game that need improvement.
“I try not to think about it because still a lot of matches I gotta win, and I was not playing that well grass-court season as I wanted, so for me the most important now is to see the improvement. We worked hard the last couple of weeks coming here to this US Swing, so for me it's important to just see the improvement.”
Elena Rybakina is looking for her third WTA 1000 title.
Her comments come after a difficult stretch on grass, but the numbers on hard courts tell a different story. Rybakina’s 24-5 record on the surface in 2026 includes the Australian Open title and her Indian Wells final, while her overall 42-8 record across the last 52 weeks underlines why Sabalenka’s Toronto exit could have such a major impact on the ranking race.
Rybakina nevertheless remains reluctant to make the ranking the focus of her Toronto campaign. The Kazakh said she is more interested in assessing whether the work completed during the last few weeks is translating into improvements, even though she knows a title would leave her almost level with Sabalenka.
“We worked hard the last couple of weeks coming here to this US Swing, so for me it's important to just see the improvement. And I think this tournament, some things are working, but still it's not my best, so I try not to think about the ranking, about the points and just go match at the time and see how far I can get.”
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Toronto opens a major path toward No. 1
The next match could provide another opportunity to close the gap. Rybakina will face either Osaka, whom she has never played competitively but has practiced with, or Fernandez, a familiar opponent she has faced several times. The matchup will also test the improvements Rybakina says she is trying to make during the North American swing.
Her comeback against Samsonova has already provided an important boost. Rybakina trailed by two breaks in the deciding set before turning the match around, adding another comeback victory to a season in which she has already established herself as one of the strongest hard-court players on tour.
“I think the most proud is that even losing 3-0 in the third, I managed to win. And as I said, was a bit unlucky in the first few games because it was net cord and it didn't go my way, but then I knew that if I'm going to fight, I can try to turn it around, so I'm glad it happened.”
The victory also matters because Rybakina said she had struggled to convert some recent close matches, making the ability to recover against Samsonova particularly valuable ahead of the US Open.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion has now reached the quarterfinals in Toronto and can move to within four points of Sabalenka by winning the tournament. “Definitely matches like this give you confidence,” Rybakina said after the victory.
Cincinnati could then become the next major checkpoint in the ranking race. Rybakina reached the quarterfinals there in 2025, while Sabalenka will also have points to defend, meaning the battle could remain extremely tight even if Rybakina wins Toronto. The US Open may ultimately provide the decisive stage, with Sabalenka defending her title and Rybakina able to move closer with every victory.
For now, Rybakina insists the ranking is not her priority. But after Sabalenka’s early exit, her own deep Toronto run and a season-leading 24-5 hard-court record, the opportunity is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
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.
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