Elena Rybakina turned down 15 colleges to keep playing tennis. Now she's no. 1 in the world

Elena Rybakina, a Gen Z tennis star, turned down 15 college offers and changed her citizenship to pursue a professional tennis career, doing so against her father's wishes. She has since risen to world number one and won the U.S. Open title. Rybakina is now earning $11.4 million, according to a Fortune report published on September 15, 2026.