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Elena Rybakina became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach world No. 1 after her US Open win
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She has helped grow tennis in Kazakhstan, donating funds to support young players
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Rybakina admits she cannot see herself playing professionally into her late 30s or 40s
Elena Rybakina is at the top of her game — and now she’s on top of the world.
After her victory in the 2026 US Open final over Aryna Sabalenka, the Kazakhstani tennis player, 27, became the 30th woman to become the world No. 1. Known for her calm and collected on-court demeanor, Rybakina has aced her way to 14 tour titles, winning three of her biggest — the WTA Finals, the Australian Open and the US Open — in the last year.
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Her down-to-earth persona translates off the court, too. When asked if she could see herself on tour in her late 30s and into her 40s like legends Serena and Venus Williams, she tells PEOPLE candidly, “For now, I would say no.”
“I feel like it’s very difficult for the body physically,” she explains. “I can say that I cannot imagine playing till that late, but we will see.”
Credit: Sarah Stier/Getty
Whether or not she stays on tour a decade from now, Rybakina has already cemented her place in history as the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach the top of the rankings. It’s an achievement that “means a lot” to her, coming from a country with a developing sporting culture.
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Every time she returns to Kazakhstan, which only happens a few times a year due to the demanding tour schedule, she sees more kids coming to tennis facilities. Since winning Wimbledon in 2022, Rybakina has contributed to growing tennis in Kazakhstan. In 2023, she donated 35 million Kazakhstan tenge (at the time around 78,000 U.S. dollars) to 14 promising talents under 18, according to The Qazaqstan Monitor.
“I feel like sport in general is becoming better and better in Kazakhstan,” Rybakina says. “We have also an Olympic gold medalist [Mikhail Shaidorov] in figure skating, and I think it’s putting Kazakhstan on the map. … I’m just very proud.”
She picked up a tennis racquet for the first time at a young age. Initially, she tried following in her older sister Anna‘s footsteps, attempting gymnastics and figure skating. Coaches mistook a 4-year-old Rybakina for a 7 year old due to her height and said she was “too tall.” Her father suggested the sisters play tennis.
“Sister said straight away that she doesn’t like it,” she recalls. “I was a bit upset going without her for the first few days, but then I fell in love with tennis.”
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Even as a child, she carried herself in the same ice-cool manner that she does today, a trait instilled by her parents.
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“When I was a junior, they were always telling me, ‘Please, just don’t cry,’ ” Rybakina says. “You know how the kids are. You need to really stay focused and not let emotions take over, because we all know when you are frustrated, you want to break racquets. Of course, it might happen with me, but it’s rare you can see it.”
She adds, “The same [happens] to me when I’m happy. You can’t see too much celebration. It’s just how I am since a kid.”
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Fans shouldn’t expect her to drop to the ground or jump for joy after winning a major anytime soon.
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“I don’t think it’s me,” she says. “I’ve been winning titles without falling on the court, so I don’t know what would happen that [would make me do that]. And honestly, I don’t think that I need to push it so hard.”
Read the original article on People
