Elena Rybakina Optimistic About Using Her WTA Finals Win as a Blueprint for Grand Slam Success in 2026

Elena Rybakina has expressed belief in her game ahead of the 2026 Brisbane International after an excellent finish to last season. The 26-year-old went on an unbeaten run from last October to November, during which she won two titles on tour, including the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Rybakina didn’t have the best start to the 2025 season as her off-court problems distracted her from giving her best on the court. However, it was at the Strasbourg Open in May that she claimed her first title of the year. During the North American hard-court swing, she reached the semi-finals of the Citi Open, Canadian Open, and Cincinnati Open.

Following a poor result at the China Open and Wuhan, the World No.5 then went on to win 11 straight matches on tour. During that run, she claimed the Ningbo Open and reached the semi-finals of the Tokyo Open. That made her leapfrog Mirra Andreeva in the WTA rankings, becoming the eighth player to earn her slot at the WTA Finals.

Despite arriving later than other players, she continued with her impressive form at the event, winning all her matches, including against Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, to win the season-ending tournament in Riyadh, claiming a whopping $5 million in prize money, the biggest for her in a single tournament.

During her press conference in Brisbane, the Kazakhstan star was asked how she feels going into the 2026 season after winning the WTA Finals in November. Rybakina revealed that she didn’t expect to win the tournament in Riyadh, and she’s willing to carry on with the form in 2026:

Well, yeah, I didn’t expect much coming to Riyadh, because I have played in China a lot, and I came kind of last moment. I was just going match by match. But it brought to this kind of result, which I’m really happy. As I said, in this minimal time we had, it was end of the season, also you’re tired, but we still managed to improve some things, my form, and played really well. Was really focused. I think it’s great achievement, and I just want to carry it throughout this season.

Several former players have dubbed Rybakina to win the Australian Open, which will be her second Grand Slam title. She won her first major title at the 2022 Wimbledon Championship just four years after making her Grand Slam debut. Her best run at the Australian Open came in 2023 when she reached the final before losing to Sabalenka.

Elena Rybakina will possibly face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International

Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are in the same part of the draw at the Brisbane International. They are likely to face each other in the semi-finals of the WTA 500 tournament. However, Rybakina will kick off her campaign at the event in the second round with a potential clash against Ashlyn Krueger.

There’s a possibility she might face Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals. During the aforementioned press conference, Rybakina noted that she’s happy to play in the tournament. She added that she hopes to win the title in Brisbane for the second time in her career:

I had some challenges also last year. So I’m happy that now I’m healthy and is just matter of time, and hopefully we can continue working like this and I will achieve my goals. It can happen as much as it’s going to be soon or later on, but I definitely try to work on that. Yeah, we’ll see what’s gonna happen, but definitely that’s my goal, and hopefully I will achieve it.

Apart from Rybakina and Sabalenka, five top 10 players will feature at the Brisbane International. They include Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva. Should Rybakina reach the final, she’s likely to face any of the top players that have been mentioned.

Also Read: Tennis Insider Shares Novak Djokovic’s Retirement Plans Which Won’t Be ‘Abrupt’

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