“My goal is to get even higher”: Elena Rybakina eyes World No. 1 after reaching Indian Wells final

Elena Rybakina advanced to the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after defeating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-4, continuing a remarkable stretch of form that has positioned her among the most dominant players on the WTA Tour in recent months. The Kazakh will now face Aryna Sabalenka in the title match, renewing one of the most compelling rivalries at the top of the women’s game.

The result also carries significant ranking implications. Rybakina’s run in the Tennis Paradise will lift her to No. 2 in the WTA Rankings next week, overtaking Iga Swiatek and setting a new career-high position. It marks another milestone in a period of sustained success that has seen the former Wimbledon champion re-establish herself as one of the tour’s most consistent contenders.

Since October, Rybakina has compiled a 28-4 record, with two of those defeats coming without a completed match due to a retirement and a walkover. In completed matches during that span, she has lost only twice, while also recording an extraordinary streak of victories over elite opponents, including 12 consecutive wins against Top-10 players.

Despite the impressive statistics, Rybakina remained measured in her assessment after the semi-final victory, suggesting that her performance against Svitolina was solid rather than exceptional but enough to reach another final at a tournament where she has historically thrived. “Not maybe my best performance, but I’m super happy to win this match and be in the final again.”

Rybakina’s resurgence at the biggest tournaments has been gradual but increasingly convincing. Her recent success traces back to the closing stages of last season, when she won six consecutive matches to qualify for the WTA Finals and then swept the event with victories over both Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. She carried that momentum into the new season, capturing the Australian Open title and again defeating both Swiatek and Sabalenka along the way.

Speaking after her semi-final win, Rybakina credited the stability of her team and steady improvements in her game as key factors behind the sustained results. “We have been working well with the team, and last year I already started to have good results," Rybakina said. "Of course some confidence came after some wins against higher-ranked players. We just kept going, and I have a very good team around me, which I’m super happy about. We’re trying to improve every day, and slowly the results are showing on the court.”

Her results against top opponents underline that progress. Rybakina is one of only four active players with a winning career record against Top-10 opponents (35-27), joining Sabalenka, Swiatek and Venus Williams. Many of those wins have come quickly, with seven of her recent Top-10 victories achieved in straight sets.

Experience has also played a role in refining her approach against elite rivals. With repeated encounters against the same opponents, Rybakina believes familiarity has helped her handle key moments more effectively than earlier in her career.

“I think with the years, with experience, I’m getting this consistency," the new world No. 2 added. "Hopefully I can just keep going. Also you get to know the players much more. When you play the same player multiple times, you know what to expect.”

The Indian Wells final will see Rybakina face Sabalenka once again, two years after their previous title match at the tournament in 2023. Their rivalry has become one of the defining matchups on the WTA Tour, featuring repeated clashes in the latter stages of major events.

Indian Wells has been a particularly successful venue for Rybakina. Outside the Grand Slams, it is the tournament where she has recorded the most victories in her career, now reaching 16 wins at the event. This is her 6th WTA 1000 final, with titles won in Indian Wells and Rome Open 2023.

Rybakina expects another tightly contested battle against Sabalenka, emphasizing that their matches are often decided by small margins and aggressive play during critical moments. “Any match I play against Aryna is tough. We’ve played many times, and I think it all depends on those close moments. Whoever steps in and plays more aggressive, more solid — that’s usually the difference.”

The conditions in Indian Wells could also play a role in shaping the final. Rybakina noted that the heavy desert conditions and slower hard courts tend to produce longer rallies compared with faster surfaces, making physical endurance an additional factor. “We know each other’s game very well. It’s a lot about physical as well, because here the ball is heavy and the rallies are a little bit longer than on other hard courts. It’s going to be a difficult match where we both try to serve well and put pressure.”

With the final approaching, Rybakina’s immediate focus remains on recovery and preparation. Yet the broader picture is already clear: her rise to No. 2 in the world and her sustained dominance against the sport’s elite have brought her closer to another objective. “To stay so long as No. 1 you need to be very consistent, and Aryna has shown great tennis for the past couple of years," the 2-time Grand Slam champion added. "Of course my goal is to get even higher in the ranking and reach that position. That’s my next goal, and I will try to do it this year.”