Elena Rybakina got off to a great start to the 2023 season. This means that the world rankings inevitably become an issue.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edited: 03/20/2023, 9:50 p.m
The duel Elena Rybakina against Aryna Sabalenka, the duel between the two hard hitters, is currently shaping women’s tennis like no other. Almost exactly two months after the first memorable encounter between the two in the final of the Australian Open, there was a new edition last weekend. Of course in the final, of course at one of the really big tournaments – in Indian Wells. Not a Grand Slam final, but still a duel for a title with that extra portion of reputation.
“It feels fantastic, it was a very difficult but really good two weeks for me,” Rybakina summed up after her triumph in the final and believed that she was on her side with the better course of the game. After an early break in section two and the somewhat fortunate opening set, it was much easier than at the beginning of the match. “That leadership made the difference today.” Especially since the conditions in round two were not easy with the wind getting stronger and stronger.
Rybakina and the world rankings
With the victory in Indian Wells, the Kazakh is now also moving up in terms of world rankings – after Rybakina had reached the top 10 just a few weeks ago, the Wimbledon winner from last year can now call herself the new number seven. “Of course the biggest goal is to be number one, even if there is still a long way to go. But yes, that would be a kind of end goal,” explained the 23-year-old. “Right now I’m number seven but we know how quickly the rankings change so I just have to focus on the next tournament I play.”
All in all, Rybakina, who remarked at the beginning of the year that the pointless Wimbledon Grand Slam would have brought some negative side effects for her, tries not to think too much about the ranking. “Especially now that I’m still a long way away. We’re only at the beginning of the year, that doesn’t mean anything yet, there are still many tournaments ahead of us,” emphasized Rybakina. But for whom the year started brilliantly – and who could climb further with another strong performance in Wimbledon, this time probably with points. And then the number one slowly but surely really becomes an issue.