Sabalenka retained the first line in world tennis
Elena Rybakina failed to displace the Belarusian after the tournament in Cincinnati.
AP Photo / Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
The world's second racket, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, could have topped the world ranking for the first time in her career. To unseat Sabalenka, who lost in the 1/8 finals, from the first place, she needed to reach the final of the Cincinnati tournament.
And if Rybakina had won the tournament, she would have gained 350 points.
However, in the quarter-final match against Poland's Iga Świątek tonight, the representative of Kazakhstan suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the match.
Sabalenka has held the first position in world tennis for one year and 10 months — since October 20, 2024.
But she may lose it after the US Open. The Belarusian won this tournament, so she will be defending 2000 points for the victory.