Aryna Sabalenka’s control of the WTA No. 1 ranking is now in danger after her Cincinnati Open exit, with Elena Rybakina positioned to move past her.

Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has occupied the top spot for most of the past two seasons. She overtook Iga Swiatek in October 2024 and has remained there for 96 consecutive weeks, bringing her career total at No. 1 to 104 weeks.

Her recent results have been less consistent. After winning both Indian Wells and Miami to complete the Sunshine Double in March, Sabalenka did not produce the same level during the clay swing, with quarter-final losses in Madrid and at the French Open standing as her best results. The grass-court stretch also brought setbacks, beginning with a round-of-16 loss at Wimbledon and followed by another fourth-round defeat at last week’s Canadian Open.

Rybakina has continued to narrow the margin. She arrived in Cincinnati just 354 points behind at No. 2, although the gap had widened to 529 because she is defending 390 points this week, compared with Sabalenka’s 215.

Sabalenka added 120 points by reaching the round of 16, but her run ended there when Sara Bejlek defeated her 7-6 (9-7), 6-4. After the match, Bejlek said, “I feel incredible,” and later added, “I lost totally my words. I just keep believing and that was the key today. She played amazing tennis and I was just believing, keep fighting and I was just trying my best and that’s it.”

Rybakina has already moved into the quarter-finals after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Diana Shnaider. To move ahead of Sabalenka in the next rankings update, she must reach the final at the WTA 1000 event in Mason.

That path is demanding. She next faces Iga Swiatek, who won the Canadian Open last week. Rybakina was beaten in straight sets by Swiatek in Toronto, but if she gets through, either Jessica Pegula or Amanda Anisimova would await in the semi-finals.

The ranking picture could tighten further at the US Open. Sabalenka is the defending champion and will drop 2,000 points at Flushing Meadows, while Rybakina will defend only 240 after her fourth-round exit in 2025.

Alex Eala’s momentum on the WTA Tour is being reflected not only in results, but also in the numbers attached to her season. After capturing her first tour title in Washington and following it with encouraging performances at WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati, the Filipina has pushed higher in the rankings and added to her prize money total.

Her rise has made her one of the most discussed players in the women’s game in recent weeks. A win over defending champion Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon sent her into the global spotlight, and her form on North American hard courts suggests that attention will continue as the US Open approaches. Night session appearances in the opening week appear likely for the 21-year-old.

Eala’s run in Cincinnati ended with a narrow loss to 2025 US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova on Monday, but the third-round showing still earned her $47,605. That amount lifted her beyond the $3m mark in career prize money, a notable milestone for a player still early in her professional career.

She remains a long way from the all-time prize money record of $94,932,862. Aryna Sabalenka sits second on $50,341,247, while a six-time Grand Slam champion is third on $46,971,769. Venus Williams is fourth with $43,162,380.

There is also room for Eala to make a substantial move up the earnings list if she performs well at the US Open, where the final major of the year could bring a sizeable payday. Last year’s event set records, with $5m awarded to the champions for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament.

Her profile is already backed by sponsorships with Nike, Globe Telecom, Babolat, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Milo Philippines and Locally Juice, and that list could grow as her results continue to build.

Main draw play at the 2026 Cincinnati Open opened on Thursday, and the withdrawal count across the event has now reached 17.

The ATP-WTA 1000 tournament is being held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. This edition also carries added significance, with the men’s event staging its 125th tournament and the women’s draw reaching its 98th edition.

Before Thursday’s play began, 15 players had already withdrawn across the combined fields. Two more ATP players then joined that list ahead of their opening matches: Corentin Moutet and Tallon Griekspoor.

Moutet had been scheduled to meet Hubert Hurkacz, but Sho Shimabukuro took his place. Griekspoor was due to play Botic van de Zandschulp, with Alexander Shevchenko stepping in.

The ATP withdrawal list includes several notable names. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the top two players on the ATP Tour, were among the eight men who pulled out before the draw. Sinner, the world No 1, was replaced by Stefanos Tsitsipas, while world No 2 Alcaraz was replaced by Mattia Bellucci.

Also withdrawn on the ATP side were Alexander Bublik, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Jaume Munar, Sebastian Korda, Ethan Quinn and Holger Rune. Their replacements were Marton Fucsovics, Adam Walton, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Valentin Royer, Lorenzo Sonego and Daniel Merida.

The WTA list also grew before the draw, with six women already out, including Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko, Jasmine Paolini and Emma Raducanu. Naomi Osaka withdrew the day before the tournament began because of fatigue.

Among the women’s replacements were Simona Waltert, Tamara Korpatsch, Eva Lys, Taylor Townsend, Tatjana Maria, Maria Timofeeva and Maya Joint.