Elena Rybakina finds herself in yet another WTA final after beating Mirra Andreeva in the Stuttgart Open semi-finals.
The Australian Open champion has also reached the Indian Wells final so far this year and her match with Karolina Muchova in Stuttgart will be her third in four months.
Rybakina’s hectic clay court schedule could see the star make up ground on Aryna Sabalenka, who has not played since winning the Miami Open.
The Kazakhstani player’s start to the season has been so impressive that she’s achieved something it took her until November to do last season.
Elena Rybakina hits impressive height at the Stuttgart Open
Rybakina’s straight sets victory against Andreeva in Stuttgart saw her notch up her seventh top 10 victory of the season already.
That is a number it took the Australian Open champion 11 months to reach last season, which she did so at the WTA Finals.
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Rybakina has managed to defeat Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula three times, Sabalenka twice, and Andreeva in 2026, while they were ranked inside the top 10.
The star’s incredible run to the WTA Finals trophy in November, after sneaking into the competition, has clearly given her confidence.
She now feels like she can beat anyone on the WTA Tour, no matter the ranking, and it’s doing wonders for her form.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the only player ranked inside the top 10 who has notched up a victory against Rybakina so far this year.
What Elena Rybakina said after reaching the Stuttgart final
Rybakina is in her first Stuttgart Open final since 2024, when she defeated Marta Kostyuk to win her maiden trophy at the German event.
Speaking straight after the win against Andreeva, the world number two said: “It feels great, I’m super happy.
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“I was missing this tournament last year, so I’m really glad to be in the final. I’m pretty happy with the performance after a three-hour match yesterday.
“I managed to sleep in and we did a regular warm-up and we talked through the match. I’m super happy. I will try to do my best and give all my energy tomorrow.”
Rybakina now plays Muchova, who knocked the Kazakhstani star out of the Brisbane International earlier this year.
