Elena Rybakina walked into the Japan Open with the calm confidence of a champion. Ever since losing to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan, she has won her last six matches and also won the Ningbo Open title by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in a three-set thriller. Her performance at the Ningbo Open was nothing short of spectacular—sharp serves, clean winners, and that signature composure that made her a Grand Slam winner. Fans expected the Kazakh star to sail deep into the draw, perhaps even lift the title in Tokyo. Rybakina even got an impressive start, but as tennis often reminds us, even the smoothest starts can lead to unexpected turns.

She started her campaign at the Japan Open with a 6-4,6-3 win against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and then went on to beat teenage sensation Victoria Mboko by 6

See Full Page