Elena Rybakina has beaten Aryna Sabalenka in both the US Open and the Australian Open in tough three sets, leaving Sabalenka without a major title for the first time since 2022. She's certainly the best player in the world right now, at least she has the highset peak level an has been able to find it when it mattered most.

But while Rybakina is a good 1000 points ahead of Sabalenka in the WTA Race, a lot still needs to happen before we call it a season. Two WTA 1000 events are happening in China, a number of 500 events still need to take place, and, of course, the WTA Finals, which can award a maximum of 1500 points to the winner if undefeated.

And Sabalenka herself, who will be looking to end the year on a high note after a disappointing season for her standards, should be looking in the rear mirror: the Top 5 is very strong and not far behind, as Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva are growing in their games and belief that they deserve to be at the top of the game.

As for Iga Swiatek, it doesn't look very good right now, so maybe her sight should be set on just the next tournament ahead, and to having a better 2027 - 2026 was pretty much a year to forget despite a strong showing in the North American swing post Wimbledon.

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While the Top 6 women in the WTA World Rankings made it to the quarterfinals and the Top 4 made the semis for the first time in many years, the ATP was handicapped from the start with Jannik Sinner sitting out due to injury, and later on a freshly back on tour Alcaraz ousted by eventual finalist Ben Shelton.

While Zverev did not face a Top 21 player until the final, Elena Rybakina made it all the way up to World No.1 and the US Open trophy by going through tough three-setters against a resurging Zheng Qinwen, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka back to back to back.

Zverev might have had the lucky stars all pointed at him this year, but he did what he had to do and is now Race World No.1. The battle is on against Jannik Sinner, truly against all odds - will he be able to find at least another win over Alcaraz and Sinner in almost two years or will the Top 2 players of this generation get things back on track?

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Alexander Zverev, who was twice accused of domestic violence against two of his former girlfriends, never seemed too likely to win a major title. Three time had he come to a final, three times he was denied, each time getting worse defeats. Now with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz reaching new heights in the game, playing at a level completely different from anything seen before, it would take nothing short of a miracle for Zverev to win a title.

And Zverev got not one, but two such miracles. After winning the most fallen apart draw ever at Roland Garros, Jannik Sinner pulled out of the US Open due to a knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz played his first tournament since coming back from a four-month absence due a wrist injury, and his rust showed against Ben Shelton in an epic 5-setter of a quarterfinal. And so, Zverev once again took advantage of one of the easiest draws in Grand Slam history.

Now No.1 in the race, Zverev has not beaten Alcaraz since 2024, and Sinner since 2023. He has only two Top 10 wins in 2026, less than some 30 players.

What a weird year in the men's tour.

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