Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Kazakh tennis player Elena Rybakina on earning the title of world No. 1. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
"Reaching the top of the WTA rankings is a sporting peak conquered thanks to your phenomenal talent, colossal hard work, and unwavering self-belief. With this historic achievement, you have glorified Kazakh sport and inscribed your name in the annals of world tennis. Your journey serves as an inspiring example for thousands of young athletes in our country and millions of tennis fans across the globe. I cannot fail to note your high culture of behavior both on the courts and in public places when interacting with a wide variety of people, which clearly speaks to your intellect and upbringing," the congratulation reads.
Tokayev wished Rybakina to maintain a champion mindset and confidently move toward new accomplishments.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that Elena Rybakina reached the semifinals of the US Open 2026 and would become the world's No. 1.
Later, Rybakina commented on her historic rise to the top of the world rankings after defeating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals of the US Open 2026. The Kazakhstani admitted she felt intense pressure during the match but does not yet want to attach special significance to her new status.
Rybakina defeated the Paris 2024 Olympic champion in three sets – 3:6, 6:1, 6:4. The match lasted 2 hours and 14 minutes. Thanks to this victory, the 27-year-old tennis player reached the US Open semifinals for the first time and secured the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings. She will officially top the rankings on Monday and become the 30th world No. 1 in the history of the women's tour.
After the match, Rybakina admitted it was hard to find words to describe what happened.
"I don't know, it's hard to find words. It was a very difficult match, of course, with a lot of nerves. It was a battle within myself. I'm glad I was able to cast aside all negative thoughts, continued to fight, and I'm very happy to reach the semifinals here," Rybakina was quoted as saying by the US Open press service.
Rybakina's semifinal appearance means Aryna Sabalenka will lose the top spot regardless of her further result at the US Open. The Belarusian had held the lead for 99 consecutive weeks.
Earlier, Sabalenka stated she was ready to sacrifice the No. 1 ranking for a third consecutive US Open title. Rybakina, in turn, before the quarterfinal called ranking leadership one of her goals but stressed that winning tournaments was more important to her.
In the US Open semifinals, Rybakina will face the winner of the match between Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva. For the Kazakhstani, this is her first appearance in the final four on the New York courts.