Aryna Sabalenka is fighting to remain world number one at the 2026 US Open.
The Belarusian has been the top-ranked player in women’s tennis for 99 consecutive weeks, but has three women standing between her and week number 100.
Elena Rybakina will become world number one if she reaches the US Open semis, while Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, like Sabalenka, will only reach the top with the title.
Which WTA player will leave the US Open as the world number one?
Four women are in contention!
During her latest press conference, Sabalenka was asked if she would accept losing the world number one ranking to Rybakina if she won her third consecutive US Open title.
Aryna Sabalenka says she cares more about winning a third US Open title than the number-one ranking
“Yes. I’ll be more than happy. Whatever, I don’t mind,” said Sabalenka.
She was then asked if winning the US Open means more to her than the number-one spot.
“Of course, yes,” she said.
“Three-peat sounds great!”
Sabalenka won the US Open in 2024 and 2025, and now has an opportunity to win her third consecutive title at the event.
She has been in this situation once before, at the Australian Open.
The Belarusian won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, but failed to complete the ‘three-peat’ in 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open ‘three-peat’ attempt
- 2023 – Champion
- 2024 – Champion
- 2025 – Runner-up
Sabalenka has now shared what she learned from that experience.
“I’m just super happy that I put myself in this position that I have a chance to go for the three-peat, even though I’m still far away from that,” she said.
“What I learned from Australia is that it’s really important to shut out the noise.
“Having that in the back of your mind, there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you’re focusing on yourself and you’re ready to fight.”
She was also asked if she feels like it’s her ‘against the world’, with all the talk of the number-one ranking dominating her press commitments.
“No, why?” Sabalenka replied.
“No. I just focus on myself.
“To me, it’s funny to see how people are guessing, doubting, and coming up with random theories about someone.
“For me, it’s just been funny to see how people are crazy about someone else.”
Sabalenka hasn’t had a great time with the press at the 2026 US Open.
Before the tournament began, Sabalenka shut down suggestions that pre-US Open parties had distracted her.
She’s been annoyed by questions at several points throughout the tournament, and understandably so.
Watching Sabalenka compete as hard as she did against Linda Noskova in the quarter-finals, you can’t question her commitment.
The Belarusian is giving everything she has to win the US Open title and remain world number one.
Unfortunately for Sabalenka, the world number one ranking is no longer in her hands.
Live WTA Rankings (Race for world number one)
| Rank | Name | Country | Points | Points with next US Open win | Points with US Open title |
| 1 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 8,331 | 8,681 | 9,901 |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 7,355 | 7,875 | 8,575 |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 6,915 | 7,265 | 8,485 |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | USA | 6,894 | 7,244 | 8,464 |
Rybakina can replace her by beating Qinwen Zheng in the quarter-finals.
The Kazakhstani will play Zheng in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, September 9.
Aryna Sabalenka could join exclusive club by remaining world number one after the US Open
Sabalenka is three wins and a Rybakina quarter-final defeat away from reaching 100 consecutive weeks at number one.
Only five women have accomplished such a feat.
WTA players with 100+ consecutive weeks at number one
| Player | Consecutive weeks | Start date | End date |
| Steffi Graf | 186 | August 17, 1987 | March 10, 1991 |
| Serena Williams | 186 | February 18, 2013 | September 11, 2016 |
| Martina Navratilova | 156 | June 14, 1982 | June 9, 1985 |
| Ashleigh Barty | 114 | September 19, 2019 | April 3, 2020 (including ranking freeze) |
| Chris Evert | 113 | May 10, 1976 | July 9, 1978 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 99 | October 21, 2024 | – |
Whether Sabalenka can join Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, Ashleigh Barty, and Chris Evert in the history books remains to be seen.
The next set of rankings will be released on Monday, September 14.
