Elena Rybakina Gears Up for ‘One Last Push’ in Miami Amid ‘Brutal’ Schedule

Reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina is a two-time finalist at the Miami Open.

Elena Rybakina Gears Up for ‘One Last Push’ in Miami Amid ‘Brutal’ Schedule

Elena Rybakina (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

In Short
  • Elena Rybakina aims for success at the Miami Open after a challenging schedule post-Australian Open.
  • She faces potential rematch with Aryna Sabalenka, who recently criticized tournament scheduling.
  • Former player Yevgeny Kafelnikov suggests Sabalenka is favored to win over Rybakina in Miami.

Elena Rybakina, despite winning the Australian Open, chose not to skip the WTA 1000 events on the Middle East Swing. Eventual runner-up Victoria Mboko knocked her out in the quarterfinals in Doha, while in Dubai, the Kazakh ace handed the walkover to Antonia Ruzic in the fourth round.

Rybakina then set up a rematch with Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final. The Belarusian ace finally took her revenge on the World No.2 after two consecutive upsets in the title clash of the 2025 WTA Finals and this year’s Australian Open final.

In her Miami Open press conference, Rybakina said she did not skip a tournament after her Melbourne triumph despite the packed schedule to keep the momentum.

I also got a bit sick, and I wanted to keep the momentum, so I went to play in Doha, and I think I played a couple of good matches there, and then unfortunately, I couldn’t recover and be 100% for the Dubai tournament. The schedule we have it’s quite brutal, but I’m happy that I managed to get to my best form in Indian Wells, an important one, and just a last push down here in Miami. Hopefully, I will do good here again, and after I will have more time to rest.

Sabalenka withdrew from both the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East and found herself at the receiving end of criticism from Dubai chief Salah Tahlak, who called for harsher punishments and even said the WTA should dock rankings points. Sabalenka hit back, calling his comments “ridiculous“, threatening never to return to Dubai.

Rybakina and Sabalenka could once again meet if they both reach the semifinal. The two-time Grand Slam champion has removed Swiatek from the second spot on the rankings table to reach her career-best No.2 ranking, but is seeded third in Miami. The win over Rybakina has helped Sabalenka improve her head-to-head record to 9-7.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov explains why he thinks Elena Rybakina will struggle at the Miami Open

Rybakina is a two-time finalist at the Miami Open. She lost to Petra Kvitova in 2023 and to Danielle Collins in 2024. Last year, she suffered an opening-round exit.

Elena Rybakina (2)
Elena Rybakina (Image via X/AllABoutHQ)

Although Rybakina is enjoying a purple patch, she could struggle in Miami, believes former ATP player Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The two-time Grand Slam champion thinks Sabalenka will be the favorite to defend her title. He said on the Hard Court podcast:

Even in [the Indian Wells] final, it was noticeable that she (Sabalenka) was a little out of control. That won’t happen in Miami. In Miami, if you hit it there, the ball will always go inside the court. I’m more inclined to say Sabalenka will win than, let’s say, Rybakina. I think that Sabalenka’s chances are preferable. Even [Iga] Swiatek has better chances [she lost in her opening round] than Elena. Elena will have a bit of a hard time because the balls will be heavy, and they’re going to get heavier and heavier with every point. It’s going to be very hard for her to hit those flat shots.

Last year in the two American WTA 1000 events, Sabalenka lost to Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final but lifted her first Sunshine Doubles title at the Miami Open against Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka will be chasing her third title of the season in Miami.

Before her defeat at Melbourne Park, the four-time Grand Slam champion defended her Brisbane International title. Sabalenka, who is chasing her 11th WTA 1000 title, will face Ann Li in her opening round, while Rybakina, the winner of two WTA 1000 titles, will lock horns with countrywoman Yulia Putintseva.

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