Rybakina withdraws from Cincinnati – World number one ranking remains out of reach for now

With her injury-related exit, a return to the top of the world rankings has moved far out of reach. Ahead of the tournament, Rybakina had trailed world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus by only a few points. A semifinal or final appearance in Cincinnati would have been enough to take over the lead. Instead, Sabalenka remains at number one for now.

Background: Rybakina's season at a glance

The timing of the injury raises questions about her season planning. Cincinnati is the final major tune-up before the US Open in New York, which begins on Monday. Rybakina has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year – two Grand Slam titles that put her on course for the top.

At Wimbledon in the summer of 2026, Rybakina claimed her second Grand Slam title. She had previously triumphed at the Australian Open in January. The victory in Melbourne is regarded as one of the turning points of her career. Those successes propelled her steadily up the world rankings.

Now, however, the focus is on recovery. When Rybakina will be able to return to the court remains uncertain. Her team spoke only of a "longer-term issue," without naming a specific timeframe for her comeback. An official statement from the WTA calendar was not initially forthcoming.

World rankings: Sabalenka stays on top

Sabalenka, meanwhile, can take the development in stride: she has led the world rankings uninterruptedly since February of this year. Poland's top player Iga Świątek sits at number three, closely followed by the American Coco Gauff. The competition in women's tennis thus remains fiercely contested.

An impact on the US Open is possible but not confirmed. Based on past experience, top players have repeatedly been able to recover from late-summer injuries without this jeopardizing their season highlight. Rybakina herself had recently stressed that she wanted to "listen to her body."

Outlook: US Open in New York

The Cincinnati tournament will continue on Thursday with the remaining eight players. Rybakina's quarterfinal opponent therefore advances to the semifinal without having to play. The WTA competition in the city on the Ohio runs through Sunday.

For the tennis season, the withdrawal marks a turning point in the title race. Rybakina had announced or already won twelve titles this year, including the two Grand Slams. Whether she can still finish the season at the top now depends largely on her state of health.

The coming days will show how serious the injury truly is. Should Rybakina also miss the US Open, this would durably alter the balance of power in women's tennis. Sabalenka would then face a promising chance to cement her top position in the long term.