“It’s not going to be easy,” Elena Rybakina shares her candid opinions about Naomi Osaka on her second comeback this year at Abu Dhabi

Naomi Osaka will face Elena Rybakina if she defeats Danielle Collins in the first round of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Elena Rybakina shares her candid opinions about Naomi Osaka on her second comeback this year at Abu Dhabi

Elena Rybakina (L), Naomi Osaka (R) (Sources: Sportslad, The New York Times)

Naomi Osaka will be taking part in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open. As she is not a seeded player in the tournament, the Japanese player has been handed a very difficult draw and might have to face the top seed, Elena Rybakina, in the very second round if she manages to defeat Danielle Collins in the first round.

Upon being asked about the potential matchup between them, Elena Rybakina said in a recent interview that Naomi Osaka is a dangerous player, irrespective of her form. 

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The four-time Grand Slam winner recently made a comeback to tennis after a year-long break due to her pregnancy.

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She participated in the Brisbane International and the 2024 Australian Open, and her performance in neither of those tournaments was that great. She lost to Karolina Pliskova in the second round of the Brisbane International and the very first round of the Australian Open. 

Elena Rybakina made a very practical comment on Osaka’s current form and said that as she is playing after a long break, she will take some time to get back to her original form and cope with the competition. However, although she is not at her best, the Kazakh said that it will definitely be a tough battle if she faces Osaka in the second round. 

Naomi is a great player, she’s just coming back now and still won’t be at her best but no matter what she’s a very dangerous and an experienced player. It’s not going to be easy, for sure, and it would be a very tough battle so we will see. Hopefully, it will go my way.
Elena Rybakina said. (Source: National News)

Elena Rybakina vs. Naomi Osaka Head-to-head 

Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka have not faced each other so far at pro level and if the latter wins her first match of the tournament, they will be playing against each other for the first time ever.

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka (Source: Imago)

Needless to say, Elena Rybakina is way ahead in the power dynamics right now, being the much higher-rated player and she is in form, unlike Osaka, who is trying to get there. 

Rybakina has already won a title at the 2024 Brisbane International, i.e., her first tournament of the year, and got a head start.

Unfortunately, even her campaign at the Australian Open was short-lived, as she lost to Anna Blinkova in the second round in a match that set the record for the longest tiebreak in the history of Grand Slam singles matches. However, she stays the favorite to win the match against Naomi Osaka if it indeed does take place. 

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