Elena Rybakina Enters Exclusive Ranks of Tennis Elite Following Rise to World Number Two

Kazakh star Elena Rybakina hits a new career-high of world No. 2. See the full list of tennis icons who peaked at the second spot in the WTA Rankings.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 7:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

A Career Milestone Amidst a Dominant 2026 Campaign

Elena Rybakina’s ascent to the second spot in the global rankings follows a sustained period of excellence, including a victory at the Australian Open and a deep run at the Indian Wells Open. By moving past several of her closest rivals, the 2022 Wimbledon winner has positioned herself as the primary challenger to the current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. Rybakina has publicly stated that while the number two ranking is a significant achievement, her ultimate professional goal remains securing the top position in women's tennis.

The Current Field of Active World Number Two Peers

Rybakina is one of six active players currently competing on the WTA Tour who share this specific career peak. This group includes reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, who first touched the number two spot in June 2024, and Ons Jabeur, who reached the milestone in 2022 before her current maternity leave. Other active peers include Barbora Krejcikova and Paula Badosa, both of whom reached the second rank in 2022, and veteran Vera Zvonareva, who originally achieved the feat in 2010 and continues to compete on the ITF circuit.

Historical Icons Who Defined the Second Rank

The list of women who peaked at world number two includes some of the most influential figures in the sport’s history. Virginia Wade was the first-ever player to hold the number two position when the official WTA Rankings launched in 1975. Tennis pioneer Billie Jean King also reached this peak in 1977 during the ranking era. Other legends on this exclusive list include Jana Novotna, who reached number two in 1997 before her emotional Wimbledon triumph, and Conchita Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion who reached her peak in 1995.