What Elena Rybakina has now done which only one other woman has managed in the last 15 years

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Elena Rybakina has been on fire this week in Riyadh, as she looks to add the WTA Finals title to her trophy cabinet.

After going 3-0 in her group, Rybakina defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to secure her place in the semifinals of the WTA Finals.

The world number six produced a remarkable serving performance, hitting 15 aces en route to victory over Pegula.

Those 15 aces saw Rybakina reach an impressive WTA landmark that no other player has managed in nine years…

Elena Rybakina becomes first player since Karolina Pliskova to hit 500 aces in a season

Rybakina ticked past 500 aces for the season during her win over Pegula, becoming the first player since Karolina Pliskova (2016) to do so.

The Czech tennis icon made 1,047 aces over two seasons in 2015 and 2016, and found herself at the top of the charts five times between 2015 and 2021.

In doing so, she rose to number one in the world rankings, but never managed to win a Grand Slam title.

Rybakina already has a major title to her name, but hasn’t been ranked higher than third.

Should she secure victory in Riyadh, she’d take another step towards the top of the standings…

Where does Elena Rybakina stand in the Live WTA rankings?

Reaching the final in Riyadh, Rybakina solidified her spot at 6th in the Live WTA rankings.

• 1. Aryna Sabalenka – 10,470 points
• 2. Iga Swiatek – 8,395 points
• 3. Coco Gauff – 6,763 points
• 4. Amanda Anisimova – 6,287 points
• 5. Jessica Pegula – 5,583 points
• 6. Elena Rybakina – 5,350 points
• 7. Madison Keys – 4,335 points
• 8. Jasmine Paolini – 4,325 points
• 9. Mirra Andreeva – 4,319 points
• 10. Ekaterina Alexandrova – 3,375 points

She could, however, jump above Pegula into fifth with a title.

If she were to do so, she’d begin 2026 with every chance of taking on Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek for the top spot.

After all, the pair were once described as the ‘big three’ of women’s tennis…

Iga Swiatek once said she, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka were ‘more consistent’ than the others

As reported by Sky Sports, Swiatek had this to say about the new big three in 2023.

“Obviously, I think these three players, I feel like we’re more consistent than the others,” she said.

“I hope we’re going to kind of save that consistency for the next seasons, but I have no idea who is going to stand out.”

Between June 2022 and 2023, Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina shared the five available Grand Slam titles.

Rybakina fell off the pace shortly after, however, failing to maintain the consistency shown by the Pole and Belarusian.

Since 2023, Sabalenka and Swiatek have won at least one major per year, while Rybakina hasn’t added to the title she won at Wimbledon in 2022.

Perhaps a win at this year’s tour finals is what she needs to propel her back to the top of the women’s game.

Looking to finish the job, Rybakina will play either Sabalenka or Anisimova in the final of the WTA Finals on Saturday, November 8.