Elena Rybakina won the US Open women’s singles tournament last week, defeating reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final duel. The 27-year-old is now the best player in the world. But just ten years ago, Moscow-born Generation Zers found themselves at a crossroads: Either they went to college or they continued to focus on their tennis careers. She even defied her father’s wishes to keep her in education.
“I finished school and had to decide whether I should go to college,” said the US Open champion told that Women’s Tennis Association in 2020.
“My dad wanted me to go to college because he was worried. He saw the results, but it was difficult for us financially. It’s not easy. Like any parent, he was worried if I got hurt.” Additionally, her father argued that she could get a “better education” abroad.
“I had offers for universities in America, but I didn’t even think about it because I wanted to keep playing. I had about 15 offers. My father really wanted me to go.”
Ultimately, Rybakina chose the uncertainty of professional tennis over the security of a college education – and that decision set her on the path that would eventually make her a three-time Grand Slam champion, with 14 singles titles in 10 countries. “I could get a better education through tennis,” she added.
She changed her citizenship, became world champion and earned $11.4 million
After Rybakina made the decision to skip college and pursue her tennis career, she made another crucial decision that would shape her professional career. Up to this point, the athlete played for Russia, but in 2018 she moved to the association in Kazakhstan – and even changed her citizenship. The Central Asian country offered the then 19-year-old financing and support to expand her career.
Rybakina has made great strides in her decades-long career as a professional tennis player. For years she worked her way up through the ITF circuit and WTA qualification. In 2019, she finished the year ranked No. 36 with her first top-100 finish and winning her first WTA title in Bucharest.
Just a year after beginning her training with a private coach, she began to translate that steady progress into a breakthrough on the WTA Tour; She made her breakthrough in 2020, playing in five tour finals, more than any other player that year. Rybakina later claimed her first major title at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships and reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open in 2023.
From then on, Rybakina’s career – and her earning power – continued to accelerate.
Rybakina capped off last year with an undefeated victory in the 2025 WTA Finals, earning $5.235 million for her victory – which was then the highest prize money payout in the history of women’s sports. She now had several titles under her belt and numerous brand sponsorships, including ones like Nike, Adidasand Red Bull.
And 2026 was Rybakina’s best year yet.
At the beginning of the year she won her major title by winning the Australian Open. And just a week ago, after her victory at the US Open Grand Slam, Generation Zers took over Sabalenka’s No. 1 ranking, which the Belarusian held for almost two full years.
Today Rybakina is the tenth highest paid tennis star in the world. accordingly ForbesHe earned $11.4 million on the court and $6 million off the court. And with victory in the women’s singles at the US Open, Rybakina brought home another $5.5 million in prize money.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that [anything] That’s what comes from this tournament,” Rybakina said said after her most recent tournament victory in New York City. “I struggled a little bit with injuries, but somehow everything fell into place on my side… I’ve been coming here for the last 10 years and it’s never been successful. Nothing close to that, and it’s just unbelievable.”
Later this year, the 27-year-old is also expected to compete in the WTA finals in a bid to regain her championship title. After a season that has already produced two Grand Slam titles, a record-breaking payday and a world No. 1 ranking, Rybakina is riding high in the tennis world.
It is uncertain whether she would have enjoyed the same stormy success had she not chosen to attend college in the United States.