Elena Rybakina Makes Big Scheduling Change After Rome Disappointment

Elena Rybakina will try to find some form ahead of Roland Garros after losing early at the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome.

By the Kazakhstani's high standards, 2025 has been a challenging year for her so far. Fans have become used to seeing Rybakina reach several finals a season, but form and results have not made that possible yet.

It is important to note that things have not been all bad. Rybakina progressed to the semifinals at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open and 2025 Dubai Championships, often digging in and showing character to fight through despite not being at her best.

Unfortunately, the 2022 Wimbledon champion's results since the North American hard-court swing in March have declined further. She failed to reach the quarterfinal at either the 2025 Indian Wells Open or the 2025 Miami Open, where she was the runner-up last year.

Rybakina's level has not improved since beginning her clay court season at the 2025 Madrid Open. The 25-year-old caused widespread shock by skipping the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, where she was the defending champion, and prioritizing the Billie Jean King Cup instead.

Elina Svitolina and Bianca Andreescu defeated Rybakina in the round of 32 in Madrid and at the ongoing 2025 Italian Open. While her opponents deserve credit, the Kazakhstani was erratic in both straight-set defeats.

To Rybakna's credit, she is not taking those tough moments lying down. The former world No. 3 demonstrated that by accepting a wild card into the Strasbourg Open, a WTA 500 tournament, in an attempt to arrest her slide.

Many players are reluctant to play the week before a Grand Slam because they risk picking up an injury or knock. A minor niggle that could be resolved in a couple of days can be more problematic when a major starts so quickly afterward.

The superb entry list for this year's Strasbourg Open means Rybakina will likely be tested. Jessica Pegula, who is guaranteed to become the new world No. 3 when the latest rankings are released, also accepted a wild card for the event.

Pegula's clay-court form leaves her in the same situation as Rybakina. The American has a 3-3 win/loss record at her three tournaments on the dirt, a poor return for one of the WTA Tour's best players.

She also missed a chance to become the world No. 2 in Rome. After an outstanding start to the season that included two titles and runner-up finishes at two other events, she entered the European clay-court swing defending no points after being injured last year.

Whether Pegula can overtake Coco Gauff at No. 2 in Strasbourg depends on whether the 2023 US Open champion reaches the Italian Open final, which would give her a big enough points lead to be guaranteed the No. 2 ranking until at least the week after the 2025 French Open.

Pegula would still be guaranteed another chance to become No. 2 at Roland Garros. Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Jasmine Paolini, the other players in the Top 5 below world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, will all defend a significant number of points in Paris.