Aryna Sabalenka is in a strange spot at the US Open where she might end the world No. 1’s 99-week winning streak.
Aryna Sabalenka might lose her world number one spot even if she wins her US Open quarter-final, thanks to an unusual situation that could end her 99-week run at the top.
After a tough few months, Sabalenka has shown she’s a strong contender for the US Open title by winning her first four matches without dropping a set. On Sunday, the 28-year-old secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Taylor Townsend. Now, she’s set to face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sabalenka reached number one in the world rankings back in October 2024, right after winning her first US Open by beating Jessica Pegula. She has held that top spot for 99 weeks, but her position is now being challenged by others.
This year has been tough for Sabalenka—she hasn’t won a major title in 2026. At the same time, world number two Elena Rybakina has won both the Australian Open and Canadian Open, getting very close to Sabalenka’s ranking points.
Coming into the US Open, Rybakina was just 434 points behind Sabalenka. If she beats Qinwen Zheng in Tuesday’s quarter-final, she could take over as number one.
This means Sabalenka might finish her match against Noskova not knowing if she’s still number one. Even if she wins, Rybakina could take the top spot by winning her next match.
If Rybakina loses before the semi-finals, things get interesting. Sabalenka would still need to win the US Open to keep the number one ranking. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, who started the tournament in third and fourth place, could become the new number one if they win the event and Rybakina is out early.
Pegula was 1,310 points behind Sabalenka, and Gauff was 1,871 points behind when the US Open began, so a win from either of them could shake up the rankings.
Sabalenka’s 99-week streak as world number one might end soon—possibly by Tuesday night. She’ll need a bit of luck from other matches, along with her own wins, to stay on top.
Right now, she’s sixth on the list of players with the longest time at number one. Icons like Steffi Graf and Serena Williams share the record with 186 weeks at the top. Here’s how the longest runs compare:
– Steffi Graf (1987-1991) – 186 weeks
– Serena Williams (2013-2016) – 186 weeks
– Martina Navratilova (1982-1985) – 156 weeks
– Ashleigh Barty (2019-2022) – 114 weeks
– Chris Evert (1976-1978) – 113 weeks
– Aryna Sabalenka (2024-2026) – 99 weeks*
It’s been an amazing run for Sabalenka, but the US Open could bring some big changes in the rankings very soon!