Key Takeaways
- Elena Rybakina declared that “Roland Garros is my next goal” after winning the US Open to claim her third distinct Grand Slam singles title.
- Rybakina stated that capturing the career Grand Slam “would mean everything to me” following her three-set victory over Aryna Sabalenka in New York.
- Having become the first Kazakh player to reach world No. 1, Rybakina maintained focus during the tournament by insisting, “It’s just a number right now.”
New world No. 1 sets sights on completing the set in Paris
Fresh from securing her third Grand Slam singles crown and ascending to world No. 1 for the first time, Elena Rybakina has already fixed her focus on the final major missing from her collection. The 27-year-old triumphed in New York by overcoming Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final, adding to her historic Wimbledon title in 2022 and her Australian Open victory earlier this year.
Reflecting on what remains after capturing three of the four major championships, the Kazakh star made no secret of her ambition to conquer the clay in Paris. Asked what completing the career Grand Slam would represent, she responded without hesitation: “It would mean everything to me.” Rybakina affirmed her intent by declaring, “Roland Garros is my next goal.”
Overcoming adversity on the path to top ranking
Her run in New York was remarkable given the interrupted preparation that preceded it. An ankle injury sustained in Cincinnati left Rybakina with only four days of practice ahead of the US Open, raising doubts about her participation. Once on court, she navigated a brutal path that featured victories over former champions Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff before overcoming Sabalenka in the title match.
Rybakina had already secured the top ranking prior to the final, following a quarterfinal win against Zheng Qinwen that ensured she would displace Sabalenka as the first player from Kazakhstan to reach world No. 1. Rather than being distracted by the milestone, Rybakina kept her attention strictly on the court. “It’s just a number right now,” she pointed out after defeating Zheng, noting, “My goal is to win any tournament I play.”
Chasing glory on the Parisian clay
While faster surfaces have traditionally played to her strengths—having noted earlier in the year that “I think I can play on all the surfaces”—Rybakina has repeatedly displayed top-tier capability on clay. She captured the WTA 1000 crown in Rome in 2023 alongside Stuttgart trophies in 2024 and 2026. Following her most recent triumph in Stuttgart, she expressed growing comfort on the dirt: “I think with the matches playing more on clay, I’m going to just get better and better.”
Despite those achievements, Paris has presented unique hurdles. Rybakina reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals in 2021 and 2024, but her 2026 campaign was cut short in the second round, where she committed 71 unforced errors in a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva. Lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen will require navigating established clay-court specialists such as Iga Swiatek and Gauff, but Rybakina now stands just one title away from joining the rare circle of players who have won all four major titles.
Elena Rybakina in 2026
Currently ranked no.1, Elena played her last match on the 12th of September when she defeated world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 5-7 6-2 in the final of the U.S. Open to win her 14th career title.
Currently, during this season the Kazakhstani has a compiled 49-13 win-loss record. Elena clinched 3 titles in 2026 at the Australian Open, Stuttgart and U.S. Open.
