As Elena Rybakina prepares for the start of the WTA Finals on November 1, she arrives in Riyadh with quiet confidence and a renewed sense of purpose after a strong finish to her 2025 season. The Kazakh player, who claimed her first title in over a year before adding another in Ningbo, believes her return to form stems from steady work and self-belief rather than dramatic changes.
“It feels very strange,” Rybakina admitted with a small smile in an interview with the WTA’s Reflector Youtube feature ahead of the Finals. Long regarded as one of the game’s purest ball strikers, she said her success has been built mainly on persistence. “What keeps me motivated? I just try to get a little better every day — whatever it is, on or off the court,” she explained.
That mindset has underpinned one of her most consistent seasons yet. After struggling with illness and scheduling issues in 2024, Rybakina’s main goal was to compete regularly again — something she now feels she’s achieved. “I’d say that’s one goal fulfilled,” she said. “I played the whole season, didn’t miss much, and stayed pretty healthy. I definitely reached that target.”
Success: “Achieving results over and over again”
Remaining in the top 10 is another sign of her resilience. “It’s definitely great to stay in the top 10, because there are so many good players, and it’s not easy to keep your place,” she said. “You have ups and downs, and the faster you find your way back, the bigger the difference between the top 10 players and the rest. So, yes, consistency still matters.”
That steadiness — both physical and mental — is now how Rybakina defines success. “Success probably means being consistent on and off the court, achieving results not just once a year but over and over again,” she explained.
It’s an attitude that’s clearly paid off. Her 2025 victories, including a strong comeback in Ningbo, have reminded the field of her composure under pressure and her effortless power.
Calm focus ahead of Riyadh
Heading into the WTA Finals, Rybakina continues to rely on clarity and calm preparation. “I try to visualize what I should do on court — the things that worked well in my previous matches,” she said. “And most importantly, to love what you do. That’s already a kind of success.”
Despite her intensity during matches, Rybakina describes herself as reserved off the court.
“I’m probably more introverted — I can be funny, empathetic, and just myself”
That grounded self-awareness may be her greatest strength as she steps onto the sport’s biggest stage once again. With her confidence restored and her rhythm rediscovered, Rybakina heads into the WTA Finals not just chasing titles, but pursuing something deeper: lasting consistency, one day at a time.