In a triumphant return to form, Elena Rybakina stormed to victory at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on May 24, 2025, claiming her first WTA title in over 13 months and signaling her readiness for the French Open, which begins tomorrow at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old Kazakhstani, a former Wimbledon champion, outlasted No. 8 seed Liudmila Samsonova in a gripping final, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, to lift the WTA 500 trophy. This victory, her ninth career title and third on clay, marks a pivotal moment for Rybakina, who has battled injuries, illness, and coaching upheavals this season. As she heads to Paris, her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game make her a formidable contender on the red dirt.
Rybakina’s journey to the Strasbourg title was a testament to her resilience. After a lackluster clay season, with only two wins and two losses in Madrid and Rome, she accepted a wildcard into the WTA 500 event to gain crucial match practice. “Usually I do not play the week before but it all depends,” Rybakina said, explaining her decision to compete in Strasbourg. “I think this time I did not get enough matches on clay. I think clay is a short season and I missed Stuttgart before Madrid. I think it was good for me.” Her choice paid off as she navigated a star-studded draw, including top-20 players like Emma Navarro, Paula Badosa, and Elina Svitolina, to reach her first final since the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in April 2024.
The final against Samsonova, a compatriot representing Russia, was a rollercoaster. Rybakina’s aggressive play shone in the first set, where she unleashed 10 winners to secure a 6-4 lead. Samsonova, however, roared back in the second, breaking Rybakina’s serve three times to level the match at 6-1. The deciding set was a tense battle, with Rybakina’s 44 winners across the match proving decisive despite Samsonova’s 4-1 head-to-head advantage going in. “It was a really tough match,” Rybakina reflected, echoing her post-semifinal comments about Beatriz Haddad Maia. Her ability to win six straight games in the third set against Haddad Maia (7-6(7), 1-6, 6-2) showcased the same tenacity that carried her to the title. “I feel good on the court. Still a lot to improve but physically and mentally I’m happy to play tournaments,” she said after her quarter-final win over Magda Linette.[](https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/1925505736316264563)
Rybakina’s Strasbourg campaign began with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over China’s Xinyu Wang, where she fired six aces and saved both break points faced. “I guess it’s better than the previous tournament for now,” she said after that match, expressing hope to build momentum. She followed with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Linette, breaking the Pole’s serve twice in a competitive clash. The semi-final against Haddad Maia, a former Roland Garros semifinalist, tested her resolve, lasting 2 hours and 46 minutes. Rybakina’s 44 winners overwhelmed Haddad Maia’s 22, securing her spot in the final. Samsonova, meanwhile, reached the final by defeating Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-2, capitalizing on eight of ten games after a tight first set.[](https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/1924827265453683162)
This title comes at a critical juncture for Rybakina, who has faced challenges since her 2023 season, which included an Australian Open final and WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Rome. Injuries, including missing the 2024 Olympics, and a turbulent coaching situation—parting with longtime coach Stefano Vukov, briefly working with Goran Ivanišević, and now collaborating with Aldo Chiari—had seen her slip to No. 12 in the WTA rankings. “I am happy with the team I have now,” she told reporters, signaling newfound stability. Her Strasbourg triumph, her first since Stuttgart 2024, reaffirms her status as a multi-surface threat, with a 127 mph serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes likened to Petra Kvitová’s by coach Adriano Albanesi.[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/elena-rybakina-states-what-she-thinks-of-her-new-coaching-team-and-confirms-why-she-changed-schedule-before-the-french-open/)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Rybakina)
As Rybakina heads to Roland Garros, where her best result is a 2021 quarter-final, her Strasbourg success boosts her confidence. Facing a tough draw, potentially including top seeds like Iga Swiatek, her calm demeanor and first-strike tennis could propel her deep into the tournament. “Hopefully I can play more here and perform well at French Open,” she said, her words carrying the weight of a player rediscovering her championship form. With her ninth title in hand, Rybakina’s Strasbourg victory is not just a trophy but a bold statement that she’s ready to challenge for Grand Slam glory once more.[](https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/1925505736316264563)
In a triumphant return to form, Elena Rybakina stormed to victory at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on May 24, 2025, claiming her first WTA title in over 13 months and signaling her readiness for the French Open, which begins tomorrow at Roland Garros. The 25-year-old Kazakhstani, a former Wimbledon champion, outlasted No. 8 seed Liudmila Samsonova in a gripping final, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, to lift the WTA 500 trophy. This victory, her ninth career title and third on clay, marks a pivotal moment for Rybakina, who has battled injuries, illness, and coaching upheavals this season. As she heads to Paris, her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game make her a formidable contender on the red dirt.
Rybakina’s journey to the Strasbourg title was a testament to her resilience. After a lackluster clay season, with only two wins and two losses in Madrid and Rome, she accepted a wildcard into the WTA 500 event to gain crucial match practice. “Usually I do not play the week before but it all depends,” Rybakina said, explaining her decision to compete in Strasbourg. “I think this time I did not get enough matches on clay. I think clay is a short season and I missed Stuttgart before Madrid. I think it was good for me.” Her choice paid off as she navigated a star-studded draw, including top-20 players like Emma Navarro, Paula Badosa, and Elina Svitolina, to reach her first final since the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in April 2024.
The final against Samsonova, a compatriot representing Russia, was a rollercoaster. Rybakina’s aggressive play shone in the first set, where she unleashed 10 winners to secure a 6-4 lead. Samsonova, however, roared back in the second, breaking Rybakina’s serve three times to level the match at 6-1. The deciding set was a tense battle, with Rybakina’s 44 winners across the match proving decisive despite Samsonova’s 4-1 head-to-head advantage going in. “It was a really tough match,” Rybakina reflected, echoing her post-semifinal comments about Beatriz Haddad Maia. Her ability to win six straight games in the third set against Haddad Maia (7-6(7), 1-6, 6-2) showcased the same tenacity that carried her to the title. “I feel good on the court. Still a lot to improve but physically and mentally I’m happy to play tournaments,” she said after her quarter-final win over Magda Linette.
Rybakina’s Strasbourg campaign began with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over China’s Xinyu Wang, where she fired six aces and saved both break points faced. “I guess it’s better than the previous tournament for now,” she said after that match, expressing hope to build momentum. She followed with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Linette, breaking the Pole’s serve twice in a competitive clash. The semi-final against Haddad Maia, a former Roland Garros semifinalist, tested her resolve, lasting 2 hours and 46 minutes. Rybakina’s 44 winners overwhelmed Haddad Maia’s 22, securing her spot in the final. Samsonova, meanwhile, reached the final by defeating Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-2, capitalizing on eight of ten games after a tight first set.
This title comes at a critical juncture for Rybakina, who has faced challenges since her 2023 season, which included an Australian Open final and WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Rome. Injuries, including missing the 2024 Olympics, and a turbulent coaching situation—parting with longtime coach Stefano Vukov, briefly working with Goran Ivanišević, and now collaborating with Aldo Chiari—had seen her slip to No. 12 in the WTA rankings. “I am happy with the team I have now,” she told reporters, signaling newfound stability. Her Strasbourg triumph, her first since Stuttgart 2024, reaffirms her status as a multi-surface threat, with a 127 mph serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes likened to Petra Kvitová’s by coach Adriano Albanesi.
As Rybakina heads to Roland Garros, where her best result is a 2021 quarter-final, her Strasbourg success boosts her confidence. Facing a tough draw, potentially including top seeds like Iga Swiatek, her calm demeanor and first-strike tennis could propel her deep into the tournament. “Hopefully I can play more here and perform well at French Open,” she said, her words carrying the weight of a player rediscovering her championship form. With her ninth title in hand, Rybakina’s Strasbourg victory is not just a trophy but a bold statement that she’s ready to challenge for Grand Slam glory once more.
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