No. 1 Sabalenka faces ranking threat from Rybakina

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will have it all to play for from the start, with her WTA status under threat this week from Elena Rybakina at the WTA Toronto Masters.

The world No. 1 must reach the round of 16 to retain her table-topping status against the pressure from her Kazakh rival, who will need to claim the trophy to take over the top spot.

The odds are not great for Sabalenka, with the four-time Grand Slam champion hoping to snap back into form following a week-long Greek island holiday after going out in the Wimbledon fourth round to Naomi Osaka.

At the time, teh no. 1 said she was ready to “forget about tennis,”

But upon reflection, she changed her tune slightly on Sunday’s opening day of play in Toronto.

“Clay and grass (seasons), I wouldn’t say they were that bad. I was trying a couple of things, didn’t go the way that I expected. 

“Now we’re back to basics and I really hope it’s going to work out well.

“I felt much better, I couldn’t wait to get back on court and start working towards my goals for this swing,” she said of her summer break.

Missing from the field of the US Open tuneup is Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova (minor surgery) while All England Club champion Czech Linda Noskova will play her first event as a top 10 contender after her Grand Slam title