Elena Rybakina suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Indian Wells final to Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina was beaten by Sabalenka in the latest installment of their rivalry, despite having a championship point in the third set tie-break.
Prior to the Indian Wells final, Rybakina had won her four previous finals against Sabalenka.
After watching her lose the final to Sabalenka, former world number one Andy Roddick has revealed the advice he would give to Rybakina if he was her coach.
Andy Roddick suggests Elena Rybakina’s coaches should tell her she is as good as Aryna Sabalenka
When discussing the women’s singles final at Indian Wells on his podcast, Roddick explained the mindset he thinks Rybakina should have.
Roddick then revealed that he would tell Rybakina that she is as good as Sabalenka right now if he was her coach.
Who will be ranked higher by the end of 2026 – Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka?
“If you are Rybakina and you win that match you are going I closed out the year better than anyone last year, I win Australia, I lose to Sabalenka but when she has beaten me in recent history, it’s when I have won four more points at Indian Wells,” said Roddick.
“If you are in her camp you are going you are absolutely as good as her right now. We can debate that and get into the statistics of it but if I’m her coach I’m going you are there. You might even be better right now. I am pitching that narrative.
“She is definitely not scared of the tough matches. She doesn’t stress test going in. She respects the best players in the world but there is no chance she does not view herself as that person right now, even with this loss to Sabalenka.”
Rybakina reached a new career-high ranking of world number two after Indian Wells, and is still 3,242 points behind Sabalenka.
However, Rybakina, whose biggest goal is to become world number one this year, actually leads Sabalenka in the race to the WTA Finals, having won the Australian Open in January.
What has been the best WTA match of 2026?
Let us know in the comments!
Who is Elena Rybakina playing at the Miami Open?
Rybakina will look to continue her impressive start to the 2026 season at the Miami Open, where she is a two-time former finalist.
The Kazakhstani lost her only match at the Miami Open last year, and therefore has a big opportunity to close the gap on Sabalenka, who is the defending champion.
After receiving a bye to the second round as the third seed, Rybakina will either play the winner of Janice Tjen or her compatriot Yulia Putintseva.
The first seeded player Rybakina could play is Marta Kostyuk, with Naomi Osaka and Iva Jovic also in her quarter.
Rybakina has played Sabalenka in two finals this year, but she can only face the world number one at the Miami Open if they both reach the semifinals.
She will play her first match against either Tjen or Putintseva on Thursday, March 19.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
