Elena Rybakina opens up on tough WTA schedule after exhaustion in Dubai ahead of crucial Miami Open run
Elena Rybakina is winning matches, but her body is feeling the pressure. The World No. 2 has been playing non-stop, and now she has finally spoken about how tough things have been. As she enters the Miami Open, Rybakina made one thing clear, she wants one last strong push before taking a break. She has been on the move since her Australian Open title run. From Melbourne to Doha, then Dubai, Indian Wells, and now Miami, there has been almost no rest. That busy schedule has started to hurt.
In fact, things got so tough that she had to stop mid-match in Dubai. During her Round of 16 match against Antonia Ruzic, Rybakina retired in the third set due to exhaustion. It was a clear sign that her body needed rest. Speaking before her first match in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, she openly shared her struggle. She said, “Well, it’s not busy. I wasn’t really fresh after Australia. I got also a bit sick and I wanted to keep the momentum, so I went to play in Doha. Then, unfortunately, I couldn’t recover and be 100% for Dubai tournament.”
Elena Rybakina opens up on brutal WTA schedule as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek concerns grow before Miami OpenElena Rybakina did not hold back when talking about the schedule. She explained how difficult it has been to keep playing without enough recovery time. Even though she wanted to continue, her body did not allow it. She said, “The schedule we have, it’s quite brutal, but I’m happy that I managed to get to my best form in Indian Wells in a big tournament. Just last push now here in Miami. Hopefully, I will do good here again. After, I will have more time to rest.”
And she is not alone. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have also faced similar issues recently. Both players pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships . Sabalenka said she had small injuries and needed rest. Swiatek shared that she was not mentally ready to compete.
Their withdrawals even led to strong reactions from Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak, who spoke about stricter rules. But players have made it clear—the schedule is very demanding. Now, all eyes are on the Miami Open. Rybakina has done well here before. She finished runner-up in 2023 and 2024. This time, she starts her campaign against Yulia Putintseva in the round of 64.
Despite the fatigue, her form has been very strong. Since Wimbledon 2025, Rybakina has been one of the best players on tour. She even moved up to World No. 2 after beating Iga Swiatek in the rankings race. Her numbers tell the story. She has a 34-8 record since Wimbledon, which is the best stretch of her career. She also won big titles like the WTA Finals and the Australian Open during this period.
Rybakina said, “I think we put a lot of work with the team and all the things clicked together. We’re still trying to improve a lot of things, but for now I’m happy.” Right now, Aryna Sabalenka is still ahead in the rankings. But the gap is getting smaller. The top tournaments are now mostly being won by these two players.
If both continue their form, fans could see another big final between them soon. But first, Rybakina wants to finish strong in Miami before finally taking a well-earned rest.
In fact, things got so tough that she had to stop mid-match in Dubai. During her Round of 16 match against Antonia Ruzic, Rybakina retired in the third set due to exhaustion. It was a clear sign that her body needed rest. Speaking before her first match in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, she openly shared her struggle. She said, “Well, it’s not busy. I wasn’t really fresh after Australia. I got also a bit sick and I wanted to keep the momentum, so I went to play in Doha. Then, unfortunately, I couldn’t recover and be 100% for Dubai tournament.”
Elena Rybakina opens up on brutal WTA schedule as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek concerns grow before Miami OpenElena Rybakina did not hold back when talking about the schedule. She explained how difficult it has been to keep playing without enough recovery time. Even though she wanted to continue, her body did not allow it. She said, “The schedule we have, it’s quite brutal, but I’m happy that I managed to get to my best form in Indian Wells in a big tournament. Just last push now here in Miami. Hopefully, I will do good here again. After, I will have more time to rest.”
And she is not alone. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have also faced similar issues recently. Both players pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships . Sabalenka said she had small injuries and needed rest. Swiatek shared that she was not mentally ready to compete.
Their withdrawals even led to strong reactions from Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak, who spoke about stricter rules. But players have made it clear—the schedule is very demanding. Now, all eyes are on the Miami Open. Rybakina has done well here before. She finished runner-up in 2023 and 2024. This time, she starts her campaign against Yulia Putintseva in the round of 64.
Despite the fatigue, her form has been very strong. Since Wimbledon 2025, Rybakina has been one of the best players on tour. She even moved up to World No. 2 after beating Iga Swiatek in the rankings race. Her numbers tell the story. She has a 34-8 record since Wimbledon, which is the best stretch of her career. She also won big titles like the WTA Finals and the Australian Open during this period.
Rybakina said, “I think we put a lot of work with the team and all the things clicked together. We’re still trying to improve a lot of things, but for now I’m happy.” Right now, Aryna Sabalenka is still ahead in the rankings. But the gap is getting smaller. The top tournaments are now mostly being won by these two players.
If both continue their form, fans could see another big final between them soon. But first, Rybakina wants to finish strong in Miami before finally taking a well-earned rest.
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