Elena Rybakina leaves Serena Williams' ex-coach perplexed ahead of WTA Finals with uncertainty looming about fitness & coaching situation
Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs has opined that Elena Rybakina is arguably the best player in the 2024 WTA Finals draw when it comes to playing on indoor hardcourts. However, she also suggested that she doesn't really know what to expect from the 2022 Wimbledon champion considering the fact that she has not been in action for some time now.
Rybakina was one of the most successful players on the WTA Tour in the first half of the 2024 season, clinching three WTA 500 titles. However, for most of the second half, she has been plagued by persistent illnesses and injury woes, resulting numerous surprise withdrawals. In fact, she is yet to feature in a competitive match since her withdrawal from the US Open.
The World No. 5 also split with coach Stefano Vukov in the buildup to the New York Slam. All these developments have led to a situation where it has become difficult to predict how her WTA Finals campaign will go.
Recently, Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs expressed her uncertainty over Elena Rybakina's prospects at the year-ending tournament. Her admission about the Kazakh's chances came during the latest episode of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
"I don't know (about Elena Rybakina's prospects at the WTA Finals). I don't know how Elena is going to do. It's going to be a very big test for her. Who is going to be coaching her? Who is she there with? That's all stuff that I could probably find out on my own without putting it out into the ether but if you want to let me know, do it," Stubbs said (at 27:16).
However, the Australian former doubles No. 1 went on to say that things could get "interesting" as according to her, Rybakina is arguably the best indoor hardcourt player in the WTA Finals draw.
"But it will be interesting. Look, she plays really good tennis indoors. She is probably at her best, probably the best player in the draw playing indoors," Stubbs added.
Rybakina has been drawn in the Purple Group in the 2024 WTA Finals Round Robin phase.
Elena Rybakina will have to fight her way out of a group featuring World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka
Former World No. 3 Elena Rybakina finds herself in a tough spot right from the get go at the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Kazakh has been drawn in the Purple Group, which also features World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Jasmine Paolini is another Purple Group player that Rybakina would be wary of at the year-ending event. The big-serving Kazakh has faced the crafty Italian on two occasions this season. While Rybakina won the pair's Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarterfinal encounter in Stuttgart on her way to the title, it was Paolini who turned the tables on the Kazakh in the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Elena Rybakina made her WTA Finals debut last year, but couldn't get past the group stage. She lost two out of three of her Round Robin phase matches, winning only against Maria Sakkari.