Elena Rybakina has established herself as a dominant force on the WTA Tour at the start of this season.
The Kazakh star secured her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and recently made the Indian Wells final before losing to Aryna Sabalenka.
This week, Rybakina is in Florida for the Miami Open, and she has defeated Yulia Putintseva and Marta Kostyuk so far.
Is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina the best rivalry in women’s tennis right now?
If not, who is?
Lindsay Davenport, the 1999 Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion, has weighed in on Rybakina’s game, while noting whether the Kazakh is a better player than she was during her own playing career.
Lindsay Davenport says Elena Rybakina is a better player than she was
Davenport began by praising Rybakina’s biggest weapon: her serve.
The Kazakh is widely regarded as having one of the best serves on the Tour, and she served a Tour-leading 516 aces during the 2025 WTA season.
I love Rybakina, [she] has a server’s mentality,” Davenport said on the Sit-Down podcast.
“I think that is something that is forgotten in women’s tennis and a lot of women don’t grow up thinking I need to take some pride in holding my serve.
2025 WTA Ace Leaders [WTA Tour]
- Elena Rybakina (516)
- Linda Noskova (373)
- Clara Tauson (358)
- Ekaterina Alexandrova (339)
- Naomi Osaka (307)
- Aryna Sabalenka (302)
- Elise Mertens (261)
- Iga Swiatek (243)
- Veronika Kudermetova (240)
- Ann Li (236)
“In men’s tennis the breaks don’t come that often, so they are always working on that serve and the first shot after the serve and the patterns they want to play.
“I find a lot of girls when they come up they are just like I want to just get the serve in.
“I love the way Rybakina approaches that and I think Sabalenka is quite similar in the way she is like I want to step up to the line and control this point and win the point on my terms.”
The Grand Slam champion then commented on the comparisons between herself and Rybakina, concluding that the Kazakh is a better player than she was.
“I can see that a little bit [the comparisons],” Davenport continued. “She is a better version of me, certainly. I love the way she plays.
“She is always working on things. Her forehand has got so much better the last few months.
“She seems to be heading towards the top but I think in her overall mentality in how the game should be played, I think I had a very similar outlook on how I wanted my game to develop.”
Elena Rybakina’s path to Miami Open glory
In the fourth round, Rybakina will play talented Australian youngster Talia Gibson, who stunned Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2 in the third round.
If Rybakina advances to the quarter-finals, she will face fifth seed Jessica Pegula or Jacqueline Cristian.
If the 26-year-old moves on to the semi-finals, she will likely have the chance to avenge her Indian Wells final loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
Who wins more Grand Slams in their career – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
Sabalenka, the world number one, plays Qinwen Zheng for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.
Should Rybakina reach the final, she would likely play one of Mirra Andreeva, Victoria Mboko or Amanda Anisimova.
