No rest for the wicked: Elena Rybakina back in practice in Madrid only 48 hours after winning Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart

Elena Rybakina appeared at practice at the Madrid Open just 48 hours after winning the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The Kazakh defeated Marta Kostyuk in the final on Sunday with a score of 6-2, 6-2, securing her third title of the season in five finals.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion has faced injury issues that forced her to retire at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and Indian Wells, but she maintains a record of 26-4 for the year, the same as world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Rybakina is second in the WTA Race, trailing behind the Pole, and shows no signs of slowing down.

The Ice Queen had a strong start to the clay swing by claiming the title and ending Swiatek's streak of 10 consecutive wins in Stuttgart (champion in 2022 and 2023). Rybakina defeated the Pole in the semifinals and then Kostyuk in the final to secure her 8th career title and 3rd on clay.

Her excellent form makes her one of the favorites for the title, and she will be the 4th seed in the tournament. In Madrid, she will have a good chance to earn points as she only defends 10 points from her performance last year when she lost in the first round to Colombian Camila Osorio.

She receives a bye in the first round and then awaits either Lucia Bronzetti or a player from the qualifying rounds. Rybakina's debut is expected on Thursday, April 25th.