Rybakina sets sights on No. 1 Rank - "Biggest goal of course"
WTAMonday, 20 March 2023 at 13:00
Updated at Friday, 28 February 2025 at 18:13
Elena Rybakina won the 2023 Indian Wells Open and improved to the World No. 7 on the WTA Rankings. However, her aspirations are to be the World No. 1.
This is the closest Rybakina got to the No. 1 rank because she missed out on the 2,000 points from Wimbledon last year. With those, she would be ranked much higher now, but that's an old story.
Right now, she is focused on the present, and it's working out in her favor with some impressive results this year, but she's hoping it continues.
"I think the biggest goal is of course to be No. 1. There is still long way to go. So this is the kind of end goal, I would say. For now, I'm 7, but you know how quickly the ranking change."
"So I need to always focus on the next tournament I play. Yeah, I'm just trying not to think so much about the ranking, especially now since it's a long way to go."
It's been a truly remarkable start to the year, with only one player having a better start to the season than Rybakina so far (Aryna Sabalenka), but that's mostly due to her winning their matchup in the Australian Open final.
That match could have easily gone the way of Rybakina, and she would have been the undisputed No. 1 so far this year. The 2023 WTA Race has her as number two, something she's aware of.
"I know that now I'm No. 2, I think so. But, I mean, it's just the beginning of the year, so still many tournaments ahead. It doesn't mean anything in the beginning, I think."
It's a very short turnaround, with the Miami Open only days away. She's not planning any celebrations but rather just a team dinner.
"Probably nothing special [celebrations]. Just because tomorrow we have to leave already to Miami, so we will stay with the team in the house to have just nice dinner. Then we have to quickly pack and go already to Miami."
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