"So hopefully next year": Elena Rybakina sets sights on number one spot in WTA Rankings in 2025

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is hoping to become world number one next year. The 25-year-old is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category along with the likes of Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, Poland’s Iga Swiatek and America’s Coco Gauff.

Rybakina has recently participated in the ongoing WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where her journey came to an end on Thursday. Despite being knocked out of the competition, the world number managed to defeat the reigning world number in her last group match with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The Moscow-born star, talking after the match, stated that her primary objective next year will be to become the world number one in women’s tennis.

"I think today I served really well, and especially in the third set," she said. "So I'm pretty happy that this was improvement, and I think maybe movement a little bit better. But of course, overall, I know that I'm not at my best, and if I would have maybe more weeks and some other matches, but with all the circumstances, I'm really happy overall how I played this this tournament. My goals are to win Slams, definitely. And the main goal is to become world #1 one day. so hopefully next year.”

Rybakina, who stayed out of action for more than two months, finished her season on a bit of a high where she struggled with fitness concerns. Despite that, the current world number five had impressive numbers to show her talent as she won 41 out of 50 matches and suffered just nine defeats in the process. She ended up winning three titles this year as well. Her first title was the Brisbane International where she defeated Sabalenka in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-3. She then lifted the Abu Dhabi Open after beating Daria Kasatkina in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Her last title was the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix where she defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.