Aryna Sabalenka got an unexpected boost even though she left the Canadian Open early.
Aryna Sabalenka had a tough day at the Canadian Open, losing in the round of 16 to Ekaterina Alexandrova in three close sets. The 28-year-old, ranked world no. 1, dropped the match 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 to the world no. 11, continuing a strange 2026 season full of early exits.
Even though Sabalenka has won three WTA titles this year, she hasn’t made it past the semi-finals in big tournaments like Wimbledon, the Italian Open, the Madrid Open, and Roland Garros. This early loss in Canada adds to a frustrating season as she prepares to defend her US Open title later this month, which would be her only Grand Slam win this year.
While leaving the Canadian Open early isn’t ideal preparation for Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka can take some comfort in the fact that she will keep her top ranking after the tournament. Elena Rybakina, the world no. 2 and now the favorite to win in Canada, won’t overtake Sabalenka in the rankings even if she wins the title. If Rybakina does win, she will be just four points behind Sabalenka in the WTA rankings.
Sabalenka will want to hold onto her number one spot, especially since Rybakina is closing in and could become the world’s top player for the first time soon. With players like Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina, Iga Swiatek, and Rybakina still fighting for the Canadian Open crown, all ranked in the WTA top ten, the race for the number one spot looks set to be exciting as we head into the Cincinnati Open.