Elena Rybakina Seals Second Grand Slam Title in Dominant Fashion, Sets Her Sights on Wimbledon.
Elena Rybakina finally broke her four-year wait for a second major title, claiming the Australian Open with a dominant display against Aryna Sabalenka. In a battle that lasted over three hours, Rybakina reeled off a six-four, four-six, six-four victory to claim her first Melbourne trophy and move back into contention for the world number one ranking.
Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, had been struggling with inconsistency since then, but she appears to have finally found her form. Her win over Sabalenka marked a significant milestone in her career, as it proved that she can consistently compete against the best players on tour.
The Kazakh's victory took her back into third place in the world rankings, a position she last occupied in September 2024. With this win, Rybakina has won her past ten matches against fellow top-10 players, an impressive feat that highlights her growing dominance on the court.
Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov had been banned for breaching the WTA's Code of Conduct earlier in the season, but it appears to have not affected his team's strategy. Rybakina has reemerged as the form player on the women's tour, amassing 38 wins since the end of Wimbledon last year and losing just once in her past 21 matches.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes that Rybakina is an obvious candidate for a second Grand Slam title this year, saying "Could she grab two Grand Slams in a year? Yes - and that will certainly edge her more towards the number one ranking in the world."
Rybakina's victory over Sabalenka was marked by her consistent and precise play, with Cash praising her ability to "when she is hot, she is just about unstoppable." The Kazakh's return to form has been fueled by a renewed focus on her training regimen, with Vukov and his team working tirelessly to help her regain her footing.
As Rybakina sets her sights on Wimbledon, many are eager to see if she can continue her winning ways on grass courts. With this win under her belt, the Kazakh is now more determined than ever to make a deep run at the tournament.
Elena Rybakina finally broke her four-year wait for a second major title, claiming the Australian Open with a dominant display against Aryna Sabalenka. In a battle that lasted over three hours, Rybakina reeled off a six-four, four-six, six-four victory to claim her first Melbourne trophy and move back into contention for the world number one ranking.
Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, had been struggling with inconsistency since then, but she appears to have finally found her form. Her win over Sabalenka marked a significant milestone in her career, as it proved that she can consistently compete against the best players on tour.
The Kazakh's victory took her back into third place in the world rankings, a position she last occupied in September 2024. With this win, Rybakina has won her past ten matches against fellow top-10 players, an impressive feat that highlights her growing dominance on the court.
Rybakina's coach Stefano Vukov had been banned for breaching the WTA's Code of Conduct earlier in the season, but it appears to have not affected his team's strategy. Rybakina has reemerged as the form player on the women's tour, amassing 38 wins since the end of Wimbledon last year and losing just once in her past 21 matches.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes that Rybakina is an obvious candidate for a second Grand Slam title this year, saying "Could she grab two Grand Slams in a year? Yes - and that will certainly edge her more towards the number one ranking in the world."
Rybakina's victory over Sabalenka was marked by her consistent and precise play, with Cash praising her ability to "when she is hot, she is just about unstoppable." The Kazakh's return to form has been fueled by a renewed focus on her training regimen, with Vukov and his team working tirelessly to help her regain her footing.
As Rybakina sets her sights on Wimbledon, many are eager to see if she can continue her winning ways on grass courts. With this win under her belt, the Kazakh is now more determined than ever to make a deep run at the tournament.