Elena Rybakina faces another chance to surpass Aryna Sabalenka for the WTA No. 1 ranking despite a missed opportunity at the French Open. Sabalenka has held the top position since October 2024, taking it from Iga Swiatek. Rybakina’s victory at the Australian Open had narrowed the gap between the two, putting her close to claiming the top spot.
Missed Opportunities at Roland Garros
Rybakina had a significant opportunity to become the No. 1 player by advancing deep into the French Open while Sabalenka faltered. Sabalenka was defending 1,300 points from last year’s runner-up finish but exited in the quarter-finals. In contrast, Rybakina was eliminated in the second round, effectively ending her title pursuit in Paris.
WTA Rankings After the French Open
Following the French Open, the top five positions in the WTA Rankings are as follows:
- Aryna Sabalenka – 9,090 points
- Elena Rybakina – 8,143 points
- Iga Swiatek – 6,733 points
- Jessica Pegula – 6,056 points
- Amanda Anisimova – 5,848 points
Upcoming Challenges
Sabalenka has more points to defend in the coming weeks. She reached the semi-finals at both the WTA 500 Berlin Open and Wimbledon last year, which means she will lose a significant number of points. An anticipated drop will leave her with an estimated total of 8,115 points.
Rybakina, on her end, will lose fewer points. She will drop 108 points at the Queen’s Club Championship and only 130 points at Wimbledon. This would bring her starting total at Wimbledon to approximately 7,905 points, allowing her a chance to close the gap.
Grass-Court Season Prospects
Rybakina is eyeing the upcoming WTA 500 Queen’s Club Championship and the Berlin Open to bolster her ranking. A title win at either event could significantly enhance her points. Even without a victory, the competition for the No. 1 spot will likely intensify at Wimbledon.
Iga Swiatek appears to be out of the No. 1 race, as she will lose 2,000 points at Wimbledon due to her status as the defending champion. Jessica Pegula remains a contender but would need to clinch victories at both the Berlin Open and Wimbledon to have a shot at the top spot.
