TOKYO–World number one Elena Rybakina hailed her “amazing achievement” after securing the year-end top ranking with a 6-2, 6-3 win over fellow Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in Japan on Thursday. Rybakina became world number one for the first time last month in winning the US Open, replacing Aryna Sabalenka at the summit. She ensured she will start 2027 on top after a comfortable opening match in Tokyo, swatting aside world number 67 Putintseva at the Pan Pacific Open in 70 minutes. The achievement capped a year in which Rybakina also won the Australian Open in January and now has three Grand Slam […]...

Keep on reading: Elena Rybakina secures year-end top rank with Tokyo win