Aryna Sabalenka has got used to life at the top of the tennis rankings over the last year and more, but her position is increasingly under threat amid her slump on form.
The Belarusian star has failed to win a title since completing the ‘Sunshine Double’ on March, as she backed up victory in Indian Wells with another big win at the Miami Open.
At that point. Sabalenka was the dominant force in women’s tennis, but she has suffered some surprise defeats in recent months, including big losses at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Her world No 1 status will be on the line when she defends her title at the US Open later this month and evidence that she is losing grip at the top can be seen from the live WTA Race list.
This is the ranking that calculates form over a calendar year and Sabalenka early defeat at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto has opened the door for Elena Rybakina to take over at the top of that list.
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With Rybakina and Iga Swiatek returning to form in Toronto and with runs to the final, Sabalenka’s two long-standing rivals are not closing the gap on her in the rankings battle.
Sabalenka has been world No 1 for an impressive 96 consecutive weeks, dating all the way back to October 2024, bringing her career total to 104 overall weeks atop the WTA charts.
“You have the target on your back. Everyone wants to beat you,” said Sabalenka.
“But I feel like it’s the same if you’re No 1, No 2, No 10. It doesn’t really matter what the ranking is anyway; when you go out there on the court, everyone wants to beat you.
“It’s just extra motivation for others to go out there and be fearless and play their best tennis. You have to deal with players performing their best. You have to deal with that and get the job done.”
The ranking points list for 2026 provides a more accurate view of current form and the presence of Alex Eala at No 15 highlights the rise of the Filipina star.
Eala is up to No 20 in the official rankings after her first WTA Tour title win in Washington earlier this month, but her current position the pecking order of women’s tennis may be higher.
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Eala has wins against Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and a host of top ten players on her record in recent months and if she can maintain her momentum at the Cincinnati Open and then the US Open, a place in the top 10 of the rankings may beckon at the end of the final Grand Slam of 2026.
Here are the latest WTA Race rankings, with the top eight players at the end of the season qualifying to play in the WTA Finals at Indian Wells.
