“Only when you ask, I have to think about it" - Elena Rybakina shuts down ranking question as World No.1 spot edges closer

The questions about the World No.1 spot will just not go away. As much as Elena Rybakina tries to ignore it, her latest win at the Canadian Open has moved her that little bit closer to Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the ladder as she searches for a third WTA 1000 title.

The Kazakh has confirmed a third semi-final appearance in Canada following a what has been a tough but successful run in Toronto. Daria Kasatkina, Ann Li and Liudmila Samsonova were taken down before rallying against last year's finalist Naomi Osaka to come back from a set and break deficit to book her spot in the last-four.

She will be hoping to progress once more with a seventh final at this level just one win away, In her way stands a fresh Coco Gauff following Belinda Bencic's withdrawal. They have not played since 2023, but Gauff has won both contests against the two-time Grand Slam champion.

A promising sign going into the tie, but Rybakina has the motivation of becoming the World No.1 for the first time.

After Sabalenka again suffered another surprising exit in the earlier rounds, the door is again open. Not once Rybakina has capitalised in recent weeks and months to her rival faltering, but now is the first time she is gaining at some pace in the WTA Rankings.

If she wins the tournament, only four points will be in between her and Sabalenka with the Belarusian still on top. That could all change in the coming tournaments. Rybakina has slightly more on the line in Cincinnati, but the US Open is a big shift towards her with Sabalenka the reigning champion. 2000 points are on the line for the four-time Grand Slam champion at Flushing Meadows, a location she has not lost at since the 2023 final.

While this is a tantalising prospect, Rybakina is not thinking about this for the time being, focusing on just the next match. “No, you guys asking me all the time," she said in response to Mark Petchey on the Tennis Channel.

“Only when you ask, I have to think about it. No, I’m just staying in present, trying to focus on one match at a time and not looking at the ranking, not following. So for me, it’s just important go match by match and hopefully win titles.”

Gauff will pose a huge challenge with the American having found her feet in recent weeks. She was one point away from reaching the Wimbledon final, and has since not dropped a set while playing one match less.

The winner will take on either Iga Swiatek or the 2017 winner Elina Svitolina. If Rybakina does triumph in Toronto, then she will be that extra step closer to surpassing Sabalenka as the World No.1 for the first time, being the first player not names Sabalenka or Swiatek to bestow this honour since Ashleigh Barty all the way back in April 2022.