Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, is no stranger to the grind of professional tennis, but her 2025 season has been a test of endurance, both physically and mentally. After a challenging year marked by persistent injuries, the 26-year-old Kazakhstani star has reached the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open in Montreal, signaling a promising step toward reclaiming her place among the WTA’s elite. Her hard-fought journey, punctuated by a gritty 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, has left her cautiously optimistic yet candid about the toll of her ongoing health struggles. “Well, of course, a little bit getting tired of my issues, but we’re managing,” Rybakina said after the match, her voice carrying a mix of relief and resolve. “Overall I’m happy that I’m ready to play these long matches. I think it’s a good preparation for US Open in the end of the day.”
Rybakina’s path to the Montreal quarterfinals has been anything but straightforward. Seeded No. 9 and ranked No. 12, she arrived in Canada fresh off a semifinal run at the DC Open, where she fell to Leylah Fernandez in a three-set thriller, squandering match points in a match that stretched over three hours. In Montreal, she powered through straight-set wins against Hailey Baptiste and Jaqueline Cristian before facing Yastremska, a formidable No. 30 seed. The two-hour, 33-minute battle saw Rybakina win 73% of her service points but struggle with nine double faults and three breaks of serve. Her ability to rally from a first-set deficit showcased her resilience, a quality that has defined her 2025 season despite a string of setbacks. “Well, I think that the site is really nice and also the fans are always nice, so I’m really happy to be here again,” she said, reflecting on her return to Montreal, where she reached the semifinals in 2023.
The past year has been a rollercoaster for Rybakina, whose powerful game has often been hampered by physical ailments. A back injury that flared up in early 2024 forced her to miss significant portions of the season, including withdrawals from Indian Wells, Rome, and the US Open, where she exited before her second-round match. Earlier health issues, including severe bronchitis and allergies, also disrupted her 2024 campaign, leading to a third-round loss at Wimbledon and a quarterfinal exit at Roland Garros. “It’s always ups and downs,” Rybakina noted after her French Open loss to Jasmine Paolini, citing health issues like allergies and sleep problems that sapped her energy. Her 2025 season has shown flashes of brilliance—highlighted by a title in Strasbourg, her ninth WTA crown—but early exits at the Australian Open and Wimbledon underscored the challenge of staying healthy.
Rybakina’s recent coaching changes have added another layer of complexity. After parting ways with longtime coach Stefano Vukov before the 2024 US Open amid reports of psychological strain, she briefly worked with Goran Ivanisevic, Novak Djokovic’s former coach, before reuniting with Vukov for 2025. The decision raised eyebrows, given past tensions, but Rybakina insists her current team, led by Davide Sanguinetti, provides the support she needs. “I am grateful to my team who stayed by my side,” she said in Montreal, crediting their role in helping her manage a lingering foot injury and prepare for grueling matches.
With the US Open looming, Rybakina sees her Montreal run as vital preparation. Her next challenge is a quarterfinal clash with Marta Kostyuk, a tenacious Ukrainian ranked No. 19, against whom Rybakina holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge, including a win in the 2024 Stuttgart Open final. “Against Marta Kostyuk, I’ll try to focus on myself. I know she’s a fighter and a tough opponent physically,” Rybakina said, aware of the physical and mental demands ahead. Her ability to endure long matches—six hard-court battles this summer alone—bodes well for New York, where she has yet to advance beyond the third round despite her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
Rybakina’s candor about her struggles resonates with fans, who admire her determination to push through adversity. “It feels good to play on hard courts,” she said after her DC Open win over Victoria Mboko, her first night match of the season. As she eyes a top-10 return, currently sitting at No. 12, her Montreal performance—her third WTA 1000 quarterfinal of 2025—signals progress. Whether she can overcome her “niggles” and harness her explosive baseline game to claim another Grand Slam remains the question, but for now, Rybakina’s grit and gradual recovery are lighting the way toward Flushing Meadows.
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