Rybakina and the keys to snatch the number one from Sabalenka

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Elena Rybakina arrives at WTA Stuttgart 2026 as the top seed, a position she will enjoy following the withdrawal of Aryna Sabalenka. Much of the conversation surrounding the women's circuit seems to revolve around her renewed rivalry with the Belarusian, with whom she has faced off in two classic finals that are already part of the collective imagination of the last decade.

Unable to replay these encounters, the spotlight shifts to the Kazakh player on German soil, aiming to add another title to her name and reignite a lively battle for the world number one spot. Gone are the days of inconsistency: it seems that Elena has found the elixir of consistency, a key ally to break through her own ceiling and reach unimaginable heights. There is no better moment than the start of a tour to reaffirm that this is not a one-day wonder, and judging by her words in the press conference, she is clearly convinced of it.

Rybakina settles the debate about the world number one: What is her view on the rivalry with Sabalenka?

- Unique conditions at a tournament, Stuttgart, where matches are played on clay... but indoors

"I think it's easier to play indoors. There are no external conditions, no sun, no wind. To be honest, I've been practicing indoors most of the time in Bratislava. It's great to start this tour here. Even if it's not played outdoors, even if it's possibly not real clay, you still slide on the surface. Overall, as a beginning, I think it's a nice start."

- Rest after Miami and how she has experienced these past weeks off the court

"I had a couple of rest days, and honestly, the jetlag was too tough after Miami, so I spent most of the time sleeping. After we started with the preparation, I needed to do some physical work because Indian Wells and Miami were very long tournaments, and in the last match, I felt that my physical level dropped a bit, I felt I needed to work on it. A couple of rest days... and from there, full preparation."

- Without Sabalenka... does a door open to the number one spot? Does it give you extra motivation for this week?

"I don't think about it too much because she's not here, but I need to give my best regardless. That's the first thing. If I do things well, which is the most important, I could achieve something like that and somehow maintain it, as it's a difficult, very difficult goal. I'm working to achieve it, and hopefully, it will happen... but I don't focus on points in every tournament. I just know that I need to do well, and at this point, I need to go all the way to the end of the tournament no matter who I play against. It's all about improvement and consistency. If it happens, great."

- Between the end of 2025 and the start of a new season, how proud are you of performing well in almost every tournament?

"It's clear that I'm proud of the work we've done, all the team and myself. So far, I've been very consistent, both in results and in the way I've played, from the end of last year to the beginning of this one. It wasn't too long, but after Australia, I played Doha and Dubai. I didn't feel quite right, but overall, I'm very happy with all the tournaments and matches I've played. In some, I came very close, but ultimately, it's that consistency that is there and speaks for me, and that I hope to maintain to stay in the battle."

- On music during changeovers and breaks: Do you like the idea of having a DJ playing, or does it distract you?

"I like when there is music on court, during changeovers, and of course when you walk onto the court. I would say the most important thing is that it gives me energy and is enjoyable for the crowd. Both in Indian Wells and in Miami, the DJs were good, as far as I remember at least. It's important not only for the players but also for the audience."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina y las claves para arrebatarle el número uno a Sabalenka