Millionaire Gen Z tennis star Elena Rybakina turned down 15 colleges to keep playing tennis—against her dad’s wishes. Now she’s no. 1 in the world | Fortune0

• bond-market, Business, Business / Artificial Intelligence, Business / Big Tech, Business / Companies, Business / Computers and Software, Business / Markets, Business / Social Media, business-idea, business-insider-today, business-strategy, CoECI News, E! Insider, Energy & Environment Newsletter, Finance, Gaming News Roundup, Gear / Gear News and Events, Global, Global Precipitation, global warming, globalstar, HEALTH, Home, House, insider-picks, insider-picks-guides, insider-reviews, insider-reviews-2021, insider-today, job-market, Leadership, Markets, Markets & Festivals, News, newsletter, Newsletters, Nexstar Media Wire News, People News, Personal Finance, personal-finance, Photovogue / Editorial / News, Politics / Politics News, Property / News, Reviews, reviews-rit-ads, Security / Security News, shop, Shop Beauty, Success
• September 15, 2026

Elena Rybakina won the U.S. Open women’s singles tournament last week, defeating reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final face-off. Now, the 27-year-old is ranked the number one female player in the world. But just 10 years ago, the Moscow-born Gen Zer was at a crossroads: go to college, or stay focused on her career