Elena Rybakina has acknowledged that the 2025 season has been unlike previous years, admitting that she’s still working to regain her top form after a series of early-season challenges. Despite setbacks, the Kazakh star believes she is gradually returning to her best and moving in the right direction.
The 25-year-old, currently ranked No. 11 in the world, faced a difficult start to the year. A back injury during the Australian swing saw her exit the Australian Open in the round of 16. Over the next few months, from February through April, Rybakina struggled to find her rhythm, suffered unexpected losses, and fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 2023.
However, signs of progress have emerged in recent weeks. Rybakina claimed her first title in over a year at the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg. She’s now extended her winning streak to six matches and advanced to the third round of the French Open.
Reflecting on her season so far, Rybakina said:
“It’s definitely not the start I’m used to. Usually, after preseason, I perform well. But this year has been different. I missed the end of last season, and it’s taken time to get back to the level I want. Slowly, I feel we’re on the right path. I’m working on everything to improve day by day.”
At Roland Garros, Rybakina had a tough opening match but managed to edge past qualifier Julia Riera 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. She showed more consistency in the next round, defeating rising American Iva Jovic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
Next, Rybakina faces a significant challenge in the third round as she prepares to take on 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Although she lost their first two encounters (in 2019 and 2021), Rybakina has since won their last three meetings.
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