By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 19, 2020
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has been rising up the rankings like a comet, so it’s time we get to know more about the talented 20-year-old. Here are 10 things about her.
1. Rybakina played for Russia originally, and did so until 2018. She was born in Moscow and reached a career-high junior ranking of No.3 in 2017.
2. Last year at this time (based on WTA rankings for February 18) Rybakina was ranked 192 in the world. She finished 2019 at 37 in the rankings. Only two players—Bianca Andreescu (5) and Marketa Vondrousova (17)—aged 20 or younger are currently ranked her than Rybakina (19).
3. Rybakina earned her first two Grand Slam main draw wins at this year’s Australian Open. She fell to Ash Barty in the third round. She has a 2-3 overall record at the Slams (0-1 at Roland Garros, 0-1 at US Open) and has yet to play Wimbledon.
4. She has a big serve. Rybakina has hammered 115 aces in 225 service games (20 matches) in 2020 to lead all ATP players in that category.
5. Rybakina also leads the WTA in several other statistical categories. She tops all players in wins (17), three-set wins (7) and finals played (3).
6. She is coached by Stefano Vukov, a former ATP pro from Croatia. The pair have been working together for about a year (February 2019) and Rybakina told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen that one of the biggest reasons for her rapid rise up the rankings is the fact that Vukov travels with her. It’s a luxury that she did not have with her previous coach, Andrei Chesnokov.
7. She didn’t want to go to college. Rybakina says she had about 15 offers to go to American universities. Her father wanted her to attend, but she convinced him to let her try to became a pro—good choice.
8. She has won 13 of her last 14 three-set matches. That’s right, dating back to Nanchang last autumn, Rybakina has only lost one of her 14 deciders. She is currently on an eight-match winning streak in third sets.
9. She doesn’t go for long rallies. With a big serve and easy power off of both wings, Rybakina is a first-strike player. At 6’0” tall and blessed with very effortless power, she likes to play aggressive and finish points fast.
10. She loves her beagle, named Mulia.