Coco Gauff Sends Warning to WTA Rivals After Elena Rybakina’s Two Grand Slam Wins: “She’s in Her Prime”

Elena Rybakina will finish this season with the most Grand Slam titles on the women’s tour. She first beat Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, then denied her the three-peat at the US Open.

Coco Gauff, the winner of the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, made two Grand Slam semifinals this season (Wimbledon and the US Open), while six-time Major champion Iga Swiatek reached the quarterfinals of only the Australian Open. These three dominated the Majors since the 2022 season, but none of them were able to take home a title at this level this season.

This is Rybakina’s most successful season to date. The 27-year-old not only won the two Majors but also became the World No.1 for the first time in her career by dethroning Sabalenka. Gauff believes the Kazakh ace is in her prime and will continue to add Major titles to her name.

Yeah, I think Elena is for sure someone who’s going to continue to win for a while just because of the weapons she’s had. I think it’s no surprise. I don’t have no theory. I mean, you reach a certain age, things start to come together.

Coco Gauff said at the pre-tournament press conference at the China Open (H/T: Tennishead)

Rybakina, the first seed at the China Open, will face the winner of the first-round match between Yuliia Starodubtseva and Alina Charaeva. Gauff will lock horns with Lanlana Tararudee or Camila Osorio in her opening-round match.

You start doing well, being more consistent. I think that’s where she’s at, in her prime. Yeah, but I think she’s going to win many more. Hopefully I cannot lose to her in some more semis, because it’s been two back-to-back ones. Maybe next time it will land on my side.

Coco Gauff added

Rybakina is a one-time semifinalist in Beijing, reaching the stage on her debut in 2023. She made her second appearance in the event in 2025 and lost in the third round. Gauff is a former champion here, winning in 2024. After the China Open, she will be chasing her second consecutive title at the Wuhan Open.

Rick Macci calls Elena Rybakina a great role model for juniors

Elena Rybakina shows little to no emotion even during tense moments. Even after smashing an ace on match point against Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final, she celebrated her triumph by not roaring or aggressively fist-pumping.

She simply raised her arms, smiled, and nodded, while across the net, the Belarusian threw her racket in frustration before obliterating it, following the customary handshake with Rybakina and the chair umpire. Because of her calm and composed on-court disposition, Serena Williams‘ childhood coach Rick Macci called her a role model for kids.

Rybakina is a great role model for juniors for not getting too high or too low. Her calmness is sometimes is mistaken for not having enough fire. This is just her wiring and DNA. You DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW IT TO FEEL IT. She is a great competitor simply because you do not end up the best female player on the planet if, mentally, your mind is not like granite.

Rick Macci wrote on X

Rybakina is a great role model for juniors for not getting to high or to low. Her calmness is sometimes is mistaken for not having enough fire.This is just her wiring and dna. You DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW IT TO FEEL IT. She is a great competitor simply because you do not end up the…

— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) September 27, 2026

Rybakina will be chasing her third title of the season in Beijing. Apart from the two Majors, she also took home the Stuttgart Open and lost the Indian Wells Open final to Sabalenka and the Canadian Open final to Iga Swiatek. In the Chinese event, reigning champion Amanda Anisimova won’t participate because of a wrist injury, which has now forced her to end her season.

Also read: Patrick Mouratoglou Makes ‘Bored’ and ‘Tired’ Claims About Carlos Alcaraz After His Decision to Play Laver Cup