Elena Rybakina’s campaign at the 2026 Cincinnati Open ended at the quarter-final stage, but how has the Kazakh’s exit impacted her world No 1 hopes?
The two-time Grand Slam winner was forced to retire due to injury when trailing 1-4 in the first set of her quarter-final match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati.
Rybakina has divulged that a left ankle issue has been bothering her for “a long period of time.”
“Of course, now I feel not the greatest, I couldn’t even push from the serve,” Rybakina said afterwards. “It’s painful to walk, and we will know more tomorrow when I do the MRI.
“It’s been bothering me for a long period of time. It was under control, but then after playing a lot of matches in Canada and coming here playing two matches in a row.”
World No 2 Rybakina began the Cincinnati Open with 7,926 points in the Live WTA Rankings, which put her 529 points adrift of top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
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Depending on results at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati, it was possible for Rybakina to overtake Sabalenka and become world No 1 for the first time.
Sabalenka suffered a surprise fourth round loss to Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati, which leaves her on 8,575 points in the Live WTA Rankings.
This clarified the situation as it meant Rybakina would take top spot from Sabalenka if she reached the final in Cincinnati.
Rybakina’s quarter-final exit, however, means she will have 8,141 points when the WTA Rankings update — putting her 434 points behind the world No 1.
The 26-year-old will remain as the world No 2, and she is currently 1,136 points clear of third-ranked Jessica Pegula — who is through to the semi-finals in Cincinnati.
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