Rybakina fully enters the fight for the number 1 in the world with Sabalenka

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Elena Rybakina is the standout player of the season, displaying a performance worthy of a world number 1. The Kazakh, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is aware that she needs to maintain this level of play if she wants to pursue the dream of dominating the WTA rankings. She may have a good chance to close in on Aryna Sabalenka. Let's analyze it.

A new intimate rivalry in women's tennis is shaping this year, sparking great excitement among all fans. After Swiatek's inconsistency and the lack of matches against Aryna Sabalenka, the buzz around their rivalry faded, but Elena Rybakina has emerged strongly. The cool Kazakh player has made a qualitative leap in terms of physical, tactical, and tennis skills, establishing herself as the best player so far this year. However, she still has a long way to go if she wants to taste the success of dominating the WTA rankings.

Sabalenka maintains a significant lead, but Rybakina barely defends points on the clay-court swing

Anyone checking the current rankings will think this article is out of place as the gap remains substantial. Sabalenka holds a lead of 2,345 points over Rybakina at the moment, but it seems unlikely that this gap won't be drastically reduced in the remaining clay-court swing. Rybakina is only defending 870 points, earned during a part of last year when she felt uncomfortable, dealing with physical and personal issues that affected her performance.

On the other hand, Aryna reigned in Madrid, reached the quarterfinals in Rome, and was a finalist in Roland Garros, consequently, she defends a whopping 2,515 points. Any early defeat of the current world number 1 in any of these three events would lead to a significant drop in her points tally. However, perhaps the most concerning is how well a confident Rybakina is playing. Throughout her career, she has shown she can perform well on clay not only with her recent title in Stuttgart but also by winning in Rome a few years back. Her best result in Madrid was reaching the semifinals in 2024, while in the Parisian Grand Slam, she has not gone beyond the quarterfinals also achieved the same year.

It doesn't seem far-fetched to think that Elena Rybakina will be a strong contender for the title in the three major clay-court events. By winning a title, she would add points to her record, and if she continues to show the solidity she has displayed all season, it would not be surprising if she doubles the points she earned last year and closes the gap with Aryna Sabalenka, provided the Belarusian does not significantly improve her 2025 results. In conclusion, an emerging challenge for the WTA rankings' number 1 title that could fully unfold after this clay-court swing.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina se mete de lleno en la lucha por el número 1 del mundo con Sabalenka