Elena Rybakina: The unshakable top-10 presence in women's tennis

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina has registered an incredible feat despite not playing tennis for a long time. The 25-year-old is often regarded as one of the most highly-rated players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, Poland’s Iga Swiatek and America’s Coco Gauff.

Rybakina has registered an incredible feat as she will start the 90th consecutive week in the top-10. That is an astonishing stat, considering that the Moscow-born star has not played any tennis since August this year because of fitness concerns. Her last appearance was at the US Open, where she was forced to withdraw just before the start of the second round.

Despite that, Rybakina has had an impressive season. The reigning world number five played 50 matches in 2024, where she won 41 and lost just nine. She won two titles this season. Her first title was Brisbane International, where she got the better of Sabalenka in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-0, 6-3. She then lifted the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix event in Stuttgart where she defeated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.

Other than that, Rybakina also played in the final of two events. She lost in the final of the Qatar Open against Poland’s Swiatek in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-2. She then lost in the final of the Miami Open against America’s Danielle Collins in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Rybakina, who is a one-time Grand Slam winner, had a decent outing in the major events as well. Her best major event this year in a Grand Slam was at Wimbledon, where she lost in the semifinal to the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.