Rybakina closes in on No. 1 ranking: US Open straight-sets win and the mental equation

New York night, the lights of Louis Armstrong Stadium were not as dazzling as Arthur Ashe, but Elena Rybakina still managed to make the entire crowd hold their breath. The serve in the seventh game of the second set, clocking 189 km/h, went straight into the T-angle — Jessica Bouzas Maneiro could only watch the ball with her eyes. Rybakina raised her arm in celebration, not too exuberant, fitting the style of a Kazakhstan-born Russian player steadily advancing toward the WTA throne. The 6-2, 6-4 victory in 1 hour and 8 minutes was not just a routine match. It was a statement of ambition. Rybakina is now just three wins away from the world No. 1 position. She needs to reach the semifinals at Flushing Meadows to guarantee the top spot when the tournament concludes. That number, for a player once doubted for her ability to maintain form across Grand Slams, is becoming a reality. I have followed Rybakina since her days competing in ITF events across Europe, before she donned the Kazakhstan colors and created the shock at Wimbledon 2026. What impresses me most is not her powerful serve or flat forehand, but how she handles first and second-round matches — where top players often lose focus. Rybakina never underestimates her opponents, and last night, she showed that once again. Bouzas Maneiro, the 21-year-old Spaniard, is not an easy opponent. She defeated Ons Jabeur at Wimbledon last year and possesses the gritty playing style characteristic of the Spanish school. But against Rybakina, everything became meaningless. The Kazakh player won 82% of first-serve points (23/28), converted 5 of 7 break-point opportunities, and committed only 12 unforced errors — an extremely impressive number for a player with such an aggressive style. What is more notable is how Rybakina read the match. She did not try to end points quickly with risky shots. Instead, she used her cross-court backhand to pull Bouzas Maneiro out of position, then unleashed her down-the-line forehand. This is a tactic I saw her use at the Australian Open 2026, but last night, it was executed with much higher precision. Rybakina has matured, not just physically but also in tactical thinking. The context of the race for the world No. 1 ranking is becoming incredibly exciting. Aryna Sabalenka, the current No. 1, is defending 2,000 points from her US Open title last year. Iga Swiatek, the former dominant player, is also trying to find her form. But Rybakina, with fewer points to defend in New York, is in the most favorable position. She only needs to reach the semifinals to surpass both main rivals. However, I want to offer a different perspective. Rybakina's approach to the world No. 1 ranking is not just about points or achievements. It is a story of patience and overcoming doubts. I remember in 2026, when she had to withdraw from many tournaments due to shoulder and back injuries, many questioned whether she could return to the top. There were moments when she seemed to lose herself, committing too many unforced errors and lacking the necessary confidence. But Rybakina has proven that comebacks are never linear. She rebuilt her serve, improved her fitness, and most importantly, learned to control her emotions on court. Last night, when Bouzas Maneiro earned a break point in the fifth game of the second set, Rybakina did not flinch. She took a deep breath, served wide, and finished the point with a cross-court volley. That was the moment I realized this player is ready for bigger challenges. Rybakina's story is also a story of diversity in women's tennis. She is not a flashy player like Swiatek, nor does she possess the raw power of Sabalenka. Rybakina represents the modern school of tennis: combining power, technique, and intelligence in every shot. She is proof that there is no single formula for success at the highest level. Looking at US Open history, I remember players who seized their opportunity in New York to rise to No. 1. In 2026, Angelique Kerber did it by defeating Karolina Pliskova in the final. In 2026, Naomi Osaka made a similar leap. Rybakina now stands before a similar historic opportunity, but the road ahead is far from easy. A host of potential opponents await her. It could be Jessica Pegula, the home favorite who always plays well at American tournaments. It could be Coco Gauff, the young champion in great form. Or it could be a surprise, like Bouzas Maneiro herself created at Wimbledon. Women's tennis always holds surprises, and Rybakina knows this better than anyone. What I want to emphasize here is Rybakina's adaptability. In last night's match, she changed tactics flexibly according to each phase. When Bouzas Maneiro began reading her serve in the second set, Rybakina immediately switched to using more drop shots and changing pace. She is no longer a player who relies only on power, but has become a true strategist on court. This progress did not come by chance. I have watched how she works with her coaching team, how she analyzes match videos, and how she adjusts her tournament schedule to optimize form. Rybakina has learned that at the Grand Slam level, victories come not from beautiful shots but from patience and the ability to make the right decisions at crucial moments. There is a detail few people notice: Rybakina has won 14 of her last 15 matches at Grand Slams. This number shows her incredible consistency at the biggest tournaments. She is no longer a player who only shines at Wimbledon, but has become a genuine contender for titles on every surface. However, I also want to offer a caution. The pursuit of the world No. 1 ranking can create significant psychological pressure. I have witnessed many players collapse under the weight of expectation, especially when they are just a few steps away from their goal. Rybakina, with her introverted personality and calm demeanor, seems well-equipped to handle this pressure. But tennis has its own rules, and no one can predict what will happen. Looking back at Rybakina's journey, I remember an afternoon at Roland Garros in 2026, when she was still a young player full of potential but lacking experience. She lost in the first round to a lesser-known opponent, and I remember thinking she needed more time to mature. Three years later, she has a Wimbledon title, reached the Australian Open final, and now stands on the threshold of the world No. 1 ranking. That journey is a testament to perseverance and the desire to rise. Rybakina's next match will be a real test. She will face an opponent from her section of the draw, and things will become much harder than the first two rounds. But if there is one thing I have learned from following Rybakina over the years, it is that she always knows how to rise at the right moment. She never loses faith in herself, even when things do not go according to plan. The 2026 US Open is witnessing one of the most exciting races for the world No. 1 ranking in WTA history. The top three players — Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Rybakina — all have a chance to finish the tournament at the top. But only one can do it, and Rybakina is showing she has the mettle to be that one. Last night, when the match ended, Rybakina walked to the net to shake hands with Bouzas Maneiro with a slight smile. She did not celebrate too wildly, did not wave to the crowd. She simply packed her bags and walked into the tunnel, as if this victory was just a small stepping stone on the long road ahead. And perhaps, that is the attitude of a true champion. The question now is not whether Rybakina can reach the semifinals, but whether she has the mental strength to overcome the bigger challenges ahead. I believe the answer is yes, but tennis always has its own surprises. And that is what makes this sport so fascinating. As I left Louis Armstrong Stadium last night, I remembered a quote from a veteran coach I once interviewed: "At a Grand Slam, you don't just play against your opponent on court, you play against yourself." Rybakina defeated herself in this match, and that is the best sign for what is to come. Three more wins. Just three more wins and Rybakina will touch the world No. 1 ranking. But in tennis, three matches can be a long journey. And for a player who has experienced many ups and downs like Rybakina, she knows better than anyone that nothing is certain until the final match ends. I will continue to follow her journey at this tournament, and I believe what we are witnessing could be the beginning of a new era in women's tennis. Rybakina, with her intelligent play and steady composure, is writing her own story — a story of perseverance, of ambition, and of never giving up on a dream.