Elena Rybakina Opens Up on Rivarly with Aryna Sabalenka: “It has been close”

Elena Rybakina is projected to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the Miami Open.

Elena Rybakina Opens Up on Rivarly with Aryna Sabalenka: “It has been close”

Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina (Image via X/HQ Pics)

Elena Rybakina is steadily building another excellent run at the Miami Open. She has reached the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 tournament without dropping a set and reinforcing her consistency across the Sunshine Doubles. She could likely face her rival Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the event.

Despite a demanding stretch at the Sunshine Doubles, Rybakina has progressed beyond expectations. The World No.2 faced Sabalenka at the final of the Indian Wells Open and lost to the Belarusian star in a deciding set tiebreak. However, she defeated Sabalenka at the Australian Open final in January.

She also overcame Sabalenka at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, denying the World No.1 her maiden title at the competition. The pair have now met 16 times, with six of those meetings coming since last year. They could face off for the 17th time at the Miami Open as Sabalenka and Rybakina are on the same side of the draw.

Rybakina won her two opening matches against Yulia Putintseva and Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. On the other hand, Sabalenka has not dropped a set so far, advancing past Ann Li and Caty McNally in the second and third rounds. Sabalenka is the defending champion and will be seeking to win the Sunshine Doubles.

No player has won the Indian Wells and Miami Open since Ashleigh Barty in 2019 and 2021. Aside from that, Rybakina will also be seeking to win the Miami Open but has one eye on her possible clash with Sabalenka in the last four. During her interview with Tennis Channel, the Kazakhstan star admitted that the rivalry that exists between her and Sabalenka has improved her game:

I feel like we push each other in each match we play to the limits and this is how we actually improve also. Not only with Aryna, but with all the top players, I feel that there are tough matches which get you to actually think more of what you need to improve, what you need to do better. With Aryna, it’s always tough battles. We are both big hitters with the big serves, and I feel like I played really well, especially in the first set in Indian Wells, and then my physical level dropped a little bit.

Rybakina has not won a title since lifting the Australian Open in Melbourne. However, she has reached the quarter-finals of all the tournaments she has competed in this season. She will take on Australia’s Talia Gibson for a place in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, while Sabalenka takes on Qinwen Zheng, a rematch of the 2024 Australian Open final.

Elena Rybakina gives a deep dive into the stress of competing in Indian Wells and the Miami Open

Elena Rybakina didn’t have any rest after finishing as runner-up at the Indian Wells. The Indian Wells final was played on March 15 and the Miami Open was slated to kick off on March 17. However, the Miami Open commencement didn’t go as planned due to rain and other issues. But Rybakina didn’t have time to reflect on her loss against Aryna Sabalenka.

Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Rybakina has to make quick adjustments to the Miami Open conditions rather than extended preparation. Speaking during the aforementioned interview, the Kazakhstan star acknowledged that the transition from Indian Wells to Miami presented logistical and physical challenges, including limited time on the court and weather disruptions:

It was not easy because we took a flight straight after the match, then we arrived pretty late here, and we planned to have a couple of days off for my body to recover. I wanted to practice two days, but with the weather and the rain, I managed to hit only once before my first match. For the court today, I felt it is what it is.

These are the major reasons players often complain that the schedule is hectic because despite the limited time to travel and prepare for tournaments, they also have to deal with the weather conditions, which play a vital role in players’ participation. Top players like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Sabalenka now tend to select tournaments to feature

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