Elena Rybakina had a pretty good 2023 campaign, but she's aiming higher in 2024, wanting to become world number one on the WTA Tour.
There are two essential goals for any tennis player when they become a professional. It's to win a Grand Slam and to become world number one. It's not a realistic dream or target for most of them, but growing up, those were the dreams, the benchmarks they sought.
Rybakina completed one of those by winning the 2022 Wimbledon. It was a shocking triumph as nobody, including her, expected it, but it proved to many that she has what it takes.
The Kazakhstani player followed up that with a pretty good 2023 and another Grand Slam final. She won some big trophies but ultimately didn't play consistently enough to reach the second goal - becoming world number one.
In a talk with Gulf News at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, where she competes ahead of the new season, Rybakina confirmed that she wants to become world number one in the future.
Of course, the main goal is to become the world No 1 one day, but the priority always is to do well in the Grand Slams. So I think the goals are quite the same.
It will be tough because several players will be gunning for the same thing. Iga Swiatek occupies the spot currently, and she certainly won't give it up easily. Rybakina will have to earn her number one spot on the court like everybody before her, and she's fully aware of that.
Yes, it’s going to be tough. I want to improve physically because this part is always a bit weaker for me but on the court there is so much to improve that we never have the time implement what my coach is telling me.
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