Elena Rybakina breaks silence on Miami absence, admits fitness struggle after Aryna Sabalenka loss and reveals World No 1 goal
Elena Rybakina did not disappear without reason. After her strong run at the 2026 Miami Open ended with a straight-set loss to Aryna Sabalenka on March 27, she stepped away for a short time. Now, just before returning at the Stuttgart Open in Germany, the Kazakh star has explained what really happened and what she is aiming for next. She said the break was not about rest alone. It was about recovery. Long travel, back-to-back tournaments, and a drop in fitness pushed her to pause and reset before the clay season began.
Elena Rybakina explains Miami Open fatigue, jet lag struggle, and why fitness became her top focus before Stuttgart return
Elena Rybakina kept it honest when she spoke before Stuttgart. She said the days after Miami were harder than expected. “Well, I had a couple of days off, and honestly, jet lag was pretty tough from Miami, so I was mostly sleeping,” she said.
That break, however, quickly turned into work. She made it clear that the long stretch of matches at Indian Wells and Miami took a toll. “After we started preparation, I needed to do some work physically, because Indian Wells, Miami, long tournaments, and on the last match, I felt that my fitness dropped a little bit and I definitely need to work on it.”
You can see the shift here. It was not just about losing to Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in Miami. It was about how she felt during that match. Her energy dipped, and she noticed it. Instead of ignoring it, she chose to fix it right away. Now, heading into Stuttgart, her focus is simple, get stronger, feel better, and stay ready for longer matches.
Elena Rybakina speaks on Aryna Sabalenka rivalry and explains calm approach toward World No. 1 ranking chase
While many players keep checking rankings, Rybakina is doing the opposite. She is chasing the top spot, but not in a rushed way. “I don’t really think about it so much… I still need to perform. That’s the first thing,” she said. She admitted that reaching and staying at World No. 1 is not easy. But she is not putting pressure on herself after every tournament.
“If I do the right things, I think the most important is to achieve this and somehow maintain… it’s very difficult… I’m working for it, so hopefully it will happen.” That mindset matters, especially with Sabalenka leading the rankings. Their rivalry has been intense this season. Sabalenka beat Rybakina in the Indian Wells final in three sets, while Rybakina had earlier defeated her at the Australian Open.
After Indian Wells, Sabalenka also spoke about their battles. She said she enjoys playing Rybakina and believes their matches push her to become better. That respect goes both ways. But for now, Rybakina is not chasing Sabalenka directly. She is focused on her own game, her fitness, and staying consistent.
Elena Rybakina explains Miami Open fatigue, jet lag struggle, and why fitness became her top focus before Stuttgart return
Elena Rybakina kept it honest when she spoke before Stuttgart. She said the days after Miami were harder than expected. “Well, I had a couple of days off, and honestly, jet lag was pretty tough from Miami, so I was mostly sleeping,” she said.
That break, however, quickly turned into work. She made it clear that the long stretch of matches at Indian Wells and Miami took a toll. “After we started preparation, I needed to do some work physically, because Indian Wells, Miami, long tournaments, and on the last match, I felt that my fitness dropped a little bit and I definitely need to work on it.”
You can see the shift here. It was not just about losing to Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in Miami. It was about how she felt during that match. Her energy dipped, and she noticed it. Instead of ignoring it, she chose to fix it right away. Now, heading into Stuttgart, her focus is simple, get stronger, feel better, and stay ready for longer matches.
While many players keep checking rankings, Rybakina is doing the opposite. She is chasing the top spot, but not in a rushed way. “I don’t really think about it so much… I still need to perform. That’s the first thing,” she said. She admitted that reaching and staying at World No. 1 is not easy. But she is not putting pressure on herself after every tournament.
“If I do the right things, I think the most important is to achieve this and somehow maintain… it’s very difficult… I’m working for it, so hopefully it will happen.” That mindset matters, especially with Sabalenka leading the rankings. Their rivalry has been intense this season. Sabalenka beat Rybakina in the Indian Wells final in three sets, while Rybakina had earlier defeated her at the Australian Open.
After Indian Wells, Sabalenka also spoke about their battles. She said she enjoys playing Rybakina and believes their matches push her to become better. That respect goes both ways. But for now, Rybakina is not chasing Sabalenka directly. She is focused on her own game, her fitness, and staying consistent.
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