Elena Rybakina Addresses Consistency Issues After Wimbledon Exit: “If I Knew, I Wouldn’t Be in This Situation”

After a great start to the 2026 season, Elena Rybakina started struggling with consistency issues. Because now, the Kazakh ace suffered another early-round exit.

Rybakina crashed out of Wimbledon with a 7-6(4), 6-1 defeat to Elise Mertens in the third round. This is the fourth consecutive time that the World No. 2 has lost in the early rounds of a tournament.

Earlier this season, she reached three finals and emerged as champion in two of them. She upset World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open but lost to the Belarusian ace in Indian Wells.

Then in Stuttgart, Rybakina progressed to her career’s sixth final on clay and won her fifth title on the surface by beating Karolina Muchova. The last time Rybakina reached the quarterfinals of a tournament was at the Italian Open.

It wasn’t the result I wanted. Obviously, I’m not happy at all. I had several chances to break serve in the first set. Then I lost my service too easily, made many double faults, and had a very low first serve percentage. Today, the serve just didn’t work. I also didn’t feel the energy was right. There are many things I’m not satisfied with.

Elena Rybakina said at the press conference

Rybakina was chasing her career’s second title on grass. The lone trophy that she lifted came at the 2022 Wimbledon by defeating Ons Jabeur.

If I knew exactly why this is happening, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now. I’ve been training well during these weeks. Also, since I was losing early in some tournaments, I’ve had even more time to work.

Elena Rybakina added

The win helped Mertens improve her head-to-head record over the two-time Grand Slam champion to 2-7. It was their second meeting this season following the fourth round of the Australian Open. Before arriving in London, Rybakina played at the Berlin Open, but her run ended in the opening round.

Elena Rybakina will next be playing in the North American hardcourt swing

The conclusion of Wimbledon will see the start of the North American hardcourt swing, where Elena Rybakina last year did not reach a single final. She will be competing at the Citi Open, where last year she lost to eventual champion Leylah Fernandez.

Rybakina, at the press conference after her Wimbledon defeat, said that instead of dwelling in the past, she will try to move on and focus on what’s next in front of her.

I try to move on. I’ve lost many times, and I’m sure I’ll lose many more. It’s impossible to win always. I’m upset, of course, but I don’t think I’ll need more than a day or two to put it behind me. Now we’ll finally be on the same surface for quite some time, and the last big effort of the year is still ahead. The first thing will be to change the scenery a bit and rest. For a couple of days, I don’t want to think about tennis at all. Then we’ll start preparing for what’s next.

Last year, after the North American hardcourt swing, Rybakina lifted the Ningbo Open by beating Ekaterina Alexandrova before defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Finals. Rybakina has not yet won a title at the Citi Open, the Canadian Open, or the Cincinnati Open.

In Montreal last year, eventual champion Victoria Mboko beat her in the semifinals, while in Cincinnati, eventual champion Iga Swiatek knocked her out in the last four. The 27-year-old has so far lifted five Big Titles (two Majors, two WTA 1000s, and one WTA Finals).

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