Category: WTA Stuttgart

Elena Rybakina says she is in the right shape to challenge for the French Open title, believing she can “win a Grand Slam on any surface”.

On the way, Rybakina also knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek as she bounced back from defeat to Danielle Collins in the Miami Open decider last month.

“I always believe in myself, of course, but it not only depends on me,” Rybakina said.

“There are a lot of great players, tough opponents. But I know if I feel fresh, if I’m physically ready, healthy, I’m playing my game, of course I have all the chances to win a Grand Slam on any surface.”

Stuttgart was Rybakina’s first outing on clay this season but she will now head to the Madrid Open, where she has a bye into round two.

The 24-year-old is arguably in the most consistent form out of any of the challengers for the French Open, having notched a tour-leading 26th win of the season.

“I’m really happy with all the matches I played here throughout the week, especially in the final, [it] was very solid from me,” said Rybakina when asked what pleased her most.

“I think just the consistency, of course, and how I’m managing to play all these tournaments until the end, because it’s really tough with the schedule we have, with all the jet lags and changes of the surface.

“It’s been a lot of matches, and I’m happy that for now I’m managing to fight through all these tough matches and be able to be in the finals”.

Rybakina will face either a qualifier or Lucia Bronzetti in her Madrid opener, and could meet Kostyuk in a rematch of the Stuttgart final in the last 32.

Elena Rybakina clinched the Stuttgart title with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Marta Kostyuk in the final.

The world No. 4 added a third title of 2024 to her collection on the German indoor clay, defeating the tricky, unseeded Ukrainian in one hour and nine minutes.

In a match where no aces were hit by either player, it was more about the dominance that the Kazakh showed with her groundstrokes, stepping inside the court to dictate the rallies and use her power to move her opponent from side to side.

Rybakina broke serve immediately, setting the early pace, and she wrapped up the first set after just 30 minutes.

She lost just one point behind her first serve – 15 from 16 – and faced only three break points in the entire match, saving all of them.

It took Rybakina three match points to finally see the match out, and a looping Kostyuk backhand flew long to seal the deal.

The result notches Rybakina ahead in the pair’s head-to-head, after she had beaten Kostyuk in the first round of the US Open last year and the Ukrainian had shocked her in the last 16 of Adelaide.

However, in their first meeting on clay, it was Rybakina who lifted her third title on the dirt to follow up her previous victories in Bucharest and Rome.

The 24-year-old continues her hot streak of form in the lead-up to Roland-Garros with the most titles won this calendar year after her triumphs in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

She had had to do it the hard way in Germany, however, with all her previous matches in the tournament going the distance, including a thriller in the semi-finals against Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1, which she won 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Kostyuk had had a fantastic tournament, knocking out three top-10 opponents en route to the final.

She saved five match points to beat fifth seed and Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng in the last 16, before coming from behind to oust third seed Coco Gauff in the last eight.

She then overpowered Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets to book her spot in the final.

Elena Rybakina clinched the Stuttgart title with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Marta Kostyuk in Sunday’s final.

The world No. 4 added a third title of 2024 to her collection on the German indoor clay, defeating the tricky, unseeded Ukrainian in one hour and nine minutes.

In a match where no aces were hit by either player, it was more about the dominance that the Kazakh showed with her groundstrokes, stepping inside the court to dictate the rallies and use her power to move her opponent from side to side.

Rybakina broke serve immediately, setting the early pace, and she wrapped up the first set after just 30 minutes.

She lost just one point behind her first serve – 15 from 16 – and faced only three break points in the entire match, saving all of them.

It took Rybakina three match points to finally see the match out, and a looping Kostyuk backhand flew long to seal the deal.

The result notches Rybakina ahead in the pair’s head-to-head, after she had beaten Kostyuk in the first round of the US Open last year and the Ukrainian had shocked her in the last 16 of Adelaide.

However, in their first meeting on clay, it was Rybakina who lifted her third title on the dirt to follow up her previous victories in Bucharest and Rome.

“I always believe in myself, of course, but it not only depends on me,” Rybakina said after her win. “There is a lot of great players, tough opponents. But I know if I feel fresh, if I’m physically ready, healthy, I’m playing my game, of course I have all the chances to win a Grand Slam on any surface.”

She added: “I knew that I have to be focused from the beginning, and also, compare the match with Iga [Swiatek], it’s a lot different.

“Marta is coming forward, trying to take the ball early. She moves well. But still, the speed is different, and I was focusing not to rush, also to try to open the angle.”

The 24-year-old continues her hot streak of form in the lead-up to the French Open with the most titles won this calendar year after her triumphs in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

She had to do it the hard way in Germany, however, with all her previous matches in the tournament going the distance, including a thriller in the semi-finals against Swiatek, the world No. 1, which she won 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Kostyuk had had a fantastic tournament, knocking out three top-10 opponents en route to the final.

She saved five match points to beat fifth seed and Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng in the last 16, before coming from behind to oust third seed Coco Gauff in the last eight.

She then overpowered Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets to book her spot in the final.