Elena Rybakina has the history of winning Wimbledon alongside
Novak Djokovic back in 2022 as her first and only major triumph so far. But before she lost out to Iga Swiatek in the final of the Qatar Open, she was quizzed about what facet she would take from his game.
Rybakina said that she would take plenty, but narrowed it down to two aspects of the 24-time Grand Slam champion's game that she would take. She went on to lose the final of the Qatar Open to Swiatek who won through in a 7-6, 6-2 win not losing a set throughout the tournament.
"There are many things that I would take from Djokovic, but certainly return and mental strength in matches. You can really take a lot from him," Rybakina said, via Sport Klub.
The Kazakh like Swiatek will return on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and will take on Victoria Azarenka who saw off Arantxa Rus earlier on Monday to seal the clash with Rybakina. It has been a sterling fortnight for the World Number Four who has won in Abu Dhabi and reached the final in Doha. She will play a third tournament in three weeks.
This is before attention will turn to Indian Wells and Miami with the former being defended after she turned the tables on Aryna Sabalenka after being defeated by her in the Australian Open final to seal the title in the desert which began a superb early season stint before illness and injury halted her at Roland Garros.