Rybakina makes winning start in race to number one
Elena Rybakina says she is "motivated" by the race to become world number one but insists her focus is on taking "one step at a time" as she got her US Open campaign off to a winning start.
Elena Rybakina begins her pursuit of becoming the world's top-ranked tennis player with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old wildcard Thea Frodin at the US Open. The 27-year-old second seed, who recently returned from a heel injury, displayed no signs of discomfort as she dominated the match. Rybakina trails Sabalenka by just 434 points in the rankings, but will claim the number one spot if she reaches the semi-finals in New York, regardless of Sabalenka's performance.
If none of Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, or Jessica Pegula win their matches, Rybakina will automatically take the top ranking. Rybakina, a two-time Grand Slam winner, openly expressed her motivation to reach the top spot but emphasized the need to focus on recovery and her next matches.
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