Elena Rybakina rises to world No. 1 as reports about a 'husband' remain unconfirmed
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina reached the world No. 1 ranking and the 2026 US Open final, while claims about her personal life, including a possible husband, are not confirmed by available sources.
Elena Rybakina, 27, born in Moscow but competing for Kazakhstan, became the world's No. 1-ranked women's tennis player for the first time during the 2026 US Open, beating China's Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to take the top spot from Aryna Sabalenka.
The road to the final
In the semifinal, Rybakina defeated American Coco Gauff, coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 — a result several sources describe as one of the most impressive victories of her career. That set up a final against Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion. One source (Front Office Sports) states that Rybakina has already won her first US Open title along with a $5.5 million prize, while other sources still describe the final as an upcoming match — the sources therefore disagree on the actual outcome of the final.
Dispute with the WTA over her coach
Rybakina's climb to the top has been accompanied by a prolonged conflict with the WTA over her coach, Stefano Vukov, who helped guide her to the 2022 Wimbledon title. The WTA launched an investigation into Vukov's conduct under its code of conduct and ultimately suspended him. Rybakina publicly defended him, stating he had "never mistreated" her, and rejected the WTA's characterization of the situation. Tension became visible in public at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh, where Rybakina deliberately kept her distance from then-WTA CEO Portia Archer during the trophy ceremony. An independent tribunal later overturned Vukov's suspension, allowing him to rejoin her coaching team. One source also names a second coach, Stanislav Khmarskyi, though no further details about his role are provided.
Personal life remains unclear
Although public interest around this story also concerns Rybakina's personal life, none of the available sources provide information about a husband — they only offer headlines referencing an alleged boyfriend, without giving specific details. As a result, claims about her marital status cannot currently be confirmed.
