Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek put on alert by Elena Rybakina at WTA Finals

Elena Rybakina has sent a strong message to her top competitors, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, making it clear that she plans to contend for the top rankings next year. Despite a challenging season marred by health issues and a coaching change, the Kazakh tennis star still managed to finish the year ranked No. 5 and secured three tournament titles. After a statement win in her final match of the season at the WTA Finals, Rybakina has made her intentions for 2025 known.

After taking a two-month hiatus, Rybakina returned to the court for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where only the top eight players of the year compete. She faced tough competition right from the start, as she was matched against some of the year’s most formidable players. Rybakina initially struggled, losing her first two matches to Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng. However, she concluded her season on a high note by defeating the year-end No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in an impressive 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory.

Reflecting on her performance, Rybakina acknowledged that although she wasn’t at her peak, she was satisfied with how she played under the circumstances. “I think today I served really well, especially in the third set,” she said after her match against Sabalenka. “I’m pretty happy with that improvement, and maybe my movement was a bit better. But overall, I know I’m not at my best. If I had more time to prepare and some additional matches, things might have been different. But given the situation, I’m pleased with how I played in the tournament.”

As she heads into the off-season, Rybakina is set to start working with a new coach and has already outlined specific goals for the upcoming season. “My goals are to win Slams, definitely. And the main goal is to become world No. 1 one day, so hopefully next year,” Rybakina revealed. While she already boasts a Wimbledon title from 2022 and has reached a career-high ranking of No. 3, she has her sights set on reaching the top spot, a position currently held by either Swiatek or Sabalenka for the past couple of seasons.

Throughout this season, Sabalenka and Swiatek have dominated the Grand Slams, winning three of the four Major titles between them. Rybakina was previously seen as part of a new “Big Three” with Swiatek and Sabalenka, but physical challenges slowed her momentum, allowing her rivals to pull ahead. Nevertheless, Rybakina is optimistic as she prepares for 2025, with a new addition to her team: 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

This partnership with Ivanisevic marks a significant step for Rybakina, as it’s his first coaching role outside the ATP Tour. Ivanisevic’s last coaching stint was with Novak Djokovic, which ended earlier this year. The former Wimbledon champion will join Rybakina’s camp for the off-season training block, working with her in Australia at the start of the new season.

With renewed determination and a high-caliber coach by her side, Rybakina is gearing up to make a serious bid for the top of women’s tennis in 2025. Her ambition to reclaim her spot among the elite players and challenge for more Grand Slam titles is clear, setting the stage for an exciting new season.