By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 13, 2026
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Elena Rybakina can see the summit.
World No. 2 Rybakina isn’t quite ready to reach the peak yet.
Continuing her hunt for her first WTA 1000 title in three years and to supplant Aryna Sabalenka as world No. 1, a weary Rybakina came up slightly short in Toronto tonight.
Former No. 1 Iga Swiatek stopped a weary Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to collect her 26th career championship and maiden National Bank Open crown.
Had Rybakina won her first WTA 1000 title since the 2023 Rome, she would have moved to within four points of surpassing Sabalenka for world No. 1. As it stands now, Rybakina trails Sabalenka by 354 ranking points.
The Australian Open champion said the top spot feels so close yet so far away as she’s been close before.
“It would mean definitely a lot [to be No. 1],” Rybakina said. “I know for me, even if you say by the ranking it’s close, for me it still feels very far.
“So I’m not thinking about it so much. We all still compete, so it doesn’t depend only on me, also
how others are going to do.”
Of course, Sabalenka is defending 2,000 ranking points for her US Open title later this month. Rybakina, a 2025 Cincinnati Open semifinalist, is defending 390 points at Cincinnati and 240 points at the US Open where she lost to Marketa Vondrousova in the 2025 fourth round.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Rybakina said growing up, No. 1 was beyond her wildest dreams. Now, that the top spot is within reach, she sees it as an “amazing” achievement.
“When I was young I was not even, if we talk about as a kid, I was not even thinking that I’m going to be professional playing at this level,” Rybakina said. “I think I achieved quite a lot.
“I’m super happy. If I can do better, amazing, I try my best, and hopefully it happens one day.”
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