Elena Rybakina, the 12th-seeded Kazakhstani star, continued her impressive run at the 2025 French Open, securing her place in the third round with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic on Court 14 at Roland Garros. The former Wimbledon champion, fresh off a title-winning performance in Strasbourg, showcased her trademark power and precision, overcoming a chilly and windy Parisian day to extend her winning streak to six matches. With this win, Rybakina sets up a blockbuster third-round clash against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, promising a thrilling showdown between two Grand Slam titans.
The match against Jovic, a 17-year-old wildcard ranked No. 129, was a test of Rybakina’s adaptability. Jovic, who had already made waves by reaching the second round in her Roland Garros debut after a three-set thriller against Renata Zarazua, showed flashes of her potential. However, Rybakina’s relentless baseline game and booming serve proved too much. “It was a long day. Waited a long time to play the match. Overall I’m happy with the win. It wasn’t easy. A bit cold, a bit of wind. She played well. I’m happy with the performance. Of course it can always be better,” Rybakina said post-match, reflecting on the challenging conditions and her opponent’s resilience. Rybakina broke Jovic’s serve four times across the two sets, capitalizing on the American’s struggles to hold, and sealed the match in 75 minutes with an immaculate display of depth and power, particularly in the second set. “The power & depth of her shots was immaculate in the second set,” one observer noted, highlighting Rybakina’s ability to elevate her game when it mattered most.
Rybakina’s journey to the third round has been marked by both dominance and grit. In the first round, she faced Argentine qualifier Julia Riera, ranked No. 202, and secured a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory in a match that tested her resolve. Despite leading 4-2 in the second set, Rybakina dropped four consecutive games, forcing her to dig deep in the decider. “She didn’t play perfect tennis to win the title [in Strasbourg], but she showed dogged determination,” a commentator remarked, a quality that carried her through the tense moments against Riera. Her performance against Jovic was notably cleaner, with seven aces and a 71% first-serve win rate, underscoring the effectiveness of her serve on the faster clay courts of Paris. “I think the clay is a little bit faster in Paris than, say, Rome. So I have time to move. I also have a big serve, which on clay at the French Open works well,” Rybakina explained, crediting the surface for complementing her aggressive style.
The 25-year-old’s 2025 season has been a tale of resurgence after a rocky start marred by injuries. Her Strasbourg triumph, where she fired 16 aces to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-1, marked her ninth career WTA title and her first since April 2024. “I’m really happy. I haven’t played this many matches in a row in a long time. Yeah, feeling good physically, of course gives you confidence,” she said after that victory, signaling her readiness for Roland Garros. With a 25-7 win-loss record this year and a career-high ranking of No. 3, Rybakina is a formidable contender, despite her coach Stefano Vukov’s ongoing WTA suspension for a code of conduct violation. Her powerful serve, which once led the tour with 192 aces in 2020, and her flat, penetrating groundstrokes make her a threat on any surface, particularly on the quicker clay of Paris, where she reached the quarter-finals in 2021 and 2024.
Looking ahead, Rybakina faces a daunting challenge against Ostapenko, whose explosive game and fearless shotmaking make her a dangerous opponent. Ostapenko, a former Roland Garros champion, has shown improved consistency on clay this year, including a WTA 500 title in Stuttgart. “It’s always interesting to see how Ostapenko plays at the French Open–a tournament she won in 2017–and she’s performed better on clay this year compared to past seasons,” one analyst noted. Rybakina, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Jovic from a straight-sets win in Melbourne earlier this year, has no prior meetings with Ostapenko, adding intrigue to the matchup. A victory could propel Rybakina toward her second French Open quarter-final, a milestone she believes is within reach if she maintains her physical condition. “If I’m physically fit and moving well, I can play on this surface,” she said, expressing confidence in her clay-court prowess.
As Rybakina prepares for Friday’s clash, her focus remains on taking it “day by day.” Her recent form, bolstered by a 41-5 service game win rate in Strasbourg, suggests she’s peaking at the right time. Meanwhile, the women’s draw remains wide open, with top seeds like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka facing their own challenges. For Rybakina, a player with a history of overcoming adversity—from switching federations to Kazakhstan in 2018 to navigating coaching controversies—Roland Garros offers a chance to cement her status as a Grand Slam contender. With her eyes on a deep run, the Kazakhstani star is ready to unleash her power against one of the tour’s most unpredictable talents.
# Elena Rybakina Powers into French Open Third Round, Eyes Showdown with Jelena Ostapenko
Elena Rybakina, the 12th-seeded Kazakhstani star, continued her impressive run at the 2025 French Open, securing her place in the third round with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Iva Jovic on Court 14 at Roland Garros. The former Wimbledon champion, fresh off a title-winning performance in Strasbourg, showcased her trademark power and precision, overcoming a chilly and windy Parisian day to extend her winning streak to six matches. With this win, Rybakina sets up a blockbuster third-round clash against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, promising a thrilling showdown between two Grand Slam titans.
The match against Jovic, a 17-year-old wildcard ranked No. 129, was a test of Rybakina’s adaptability. Jovic, who had already made waves by reaching the second round in her Roland Garros debut after a three-set thriller against Renata Zarazua, showed flashes of her potential. However, Rybakina’s relentless baseline game and booming serve proved too much. “It was a long day. Waited a long time to play the match. Overall I’m happy with the win. It wasn’t easy. A bit cold, a bit of wind. She played well. I’m happy with the performance. Of course it can always be better,” Rybakina said post-match, reflecting on the challenging conditions and her opponent’s resilience. Rybakina broke Jovic’s serve four times across the two sets, capitalizing on the American’s struggles to hold, and sealed the match in 75 minutes with an immaculate display of depth and power, particularly in the second set. “The power & depth of her shots was immaculate in the second set,” one observer noted, highlighting Rybakina’s ability to elevate her game when it mattered most.
Rybakina’s journey to the third round has been marked by both dominance and grit. In the first round, she faced Argentine qualifier Julia Riera, ranked No. 202, and secured a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory in a match that tested her resolve. Despite leading 4-2 in the second set, Rybakina dropped four consecutive games, forcing her to dig deep in the decider. “She didn’t play perfect tennis to win the title [in Strasbourg], but she showed dogged determination,” a commentator remarked, a quality that carried her through the tense moments against Riera. Her performance against Jovic was notably cleaner, with seven aces and a 71% first-serve win rate, underscoring the effectiveness of her serve on the faster clay courts of Paris. “I think the clay is a little bit faster in Paris than, say, Rome. So I have time to move. I also have a big serve, which on clay at the French Open works well,” Rybakina explained, crediting the surface for complementing her aggressive style.
The 25-year-old’s 2025 season has been a tale of resurgence after a rocky start marred by injuries. Her Strasbourg triumph, where she fired 16 aces to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-1, marked her ninth career WTA title and her first since April 2024. “I’m really happy. I haven’t played this many matches in a row in a long time. Yeah, feeling good physically, of course gives you confidence,” she said after that victory, signaling her readiness for Roland Garros. With a 25-7 win-loss record this year and a career-high ranking of No. 3, Rybakina is a formidable contender, despite her coach Stefano Vukov’s ongoing WTA suspension for a code of conduct violation. Her powerful serve, which once led the tour with 192 aces in 2020, and her flat, penetrating groundstrokes make her a threat on any surface, particularly on the quicker clay of Paris, where she reached the quarter-finals in 2021 and 2024.
Looking ahead, Rybakina faces a daunting challenge against Ostapenko, whose explosive game and fearless shotmaking make her a dangerous opponent. Ostapenko, a former Roland Garros champion, has shown improved consistency on clay this year, including a WTA 500 title in Stuttgart. “It’s always interesting to see how Ostapenko plays at the French Open–a tournament she won in 2017–and she’s performed better on clay this year compared to past seasons,” one analyst noted. Rybakina, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Jovic from a straight-sets win in Melbourne earlier this year, has no prior meetings with Ostapenko, adding intrigue to the matchup. A victory could propel Rybakina toward her second French Open quarter-final, a milestone she believes is within reach if she maintains her physical condition. “If I’m physically fit and moving well, I can play on this surface,” she said, expressing confidence in her clay-court prowess.
As Rybakina prepares for Friday’s clash, her focus remains on taking it “day by day.” Her recent form, bolstered by a 41-5 service game win rate in Strasbourg, suggests she’s peaking at the right time. Meanwhile, the women’s draw remains wide open, with top seeds like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka facing their own challenges. For Rybakina, a player with a history of overcoming adversity—from switching federations to Kazakhstan in 2018 to navigating coaching controversies—Roland Garros offers a chance to cement her status as a Grand Slam contender. With her eyes on a deep run, the Kazakhstani star is ready to unleash her power against one of the tour’s most unpredictable talents.
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