'Amazing achievement' as Rybakina clinches year-end No 1

Elena Rybakina secured the year-end women's singles number one ranking by beating Yulia Putintseva in the last 16 of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

The 6-2 6-3 victory for Rybakina means she cannot be overtaken in the closing weeks of a stellar year in which she has won the Australian Open and US Open titles.

Rybakina triumphed at the Ningbo Open last week to win her fourth title of 2026 and, after a first-round bye in Tokyo, served six aces and produced 25 winners in beating Putintseva.

She will play former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, who she beat 6-2 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final, in the Tokyo quarter-finals.