Rybakina locks in top spot: Tokyo win seals year-end No. 1

Elena Rybakina defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-3 on Thursday in Tokyo to claim the year-end world number one ranking. The victory in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open came more than a week before the season-ending WTA Finals.

Rybakina needed only this win to prevent Aryna Sabalenka from overtaking her. The 27-year-old rose to the top spot for the first time last month after winning the US Open. She has since maintained her position despite a recent injury and a loss in Beijing.

The player arrived at the Ariake Coliseum as the defending champion of the Ningbo Open. She captured her fourth title of the season in China last week. This win marks her first victory as the top-ranked player. She holds three Grand Slam titles, including wins at the Australian Open and US Open this year.

Rybakina received a bye into the last 16 of the WTA 500 event. She will next face Leylah Fernandez in a rematch of their Ningbo final. Fernandez advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Elise Mertens 6-2 7-6(8) on Thursday.

The tournament serves as the final preparation for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California. The top eight players will compete there from November 8 to November 15. Rybakina is aiming for her 16th career title before that event begins.