Elena Rybakina solidified her position as a major contender for the women’s singles title with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kaja Juvan in the first round at Margaret Court Arena. This win marks Rybakina’s sixth victory in a row and sets her up for a potential second-round matchup with former world No. 1 Simona Halep.
Continuing her Hot Streak
Rybakina, currently ranked No. 22 in the WTA rankings, has been on fire since the beginning of the season. She kicked off her year by reaching the final at the Shenzhen Open, followed by a semifinal appearance at the Hobart International. In both tournaments, she defeated several top-ranked players including Garbiñe Muguruza and Petra Martić.
Her hot streak continued at the Australian Open where she reached the third round before losing to eventual champion Sofia Kennin.
“I’m happy with the serve, it really worked today,” said the No. 5 seed. Dominating on her serve, Rybakina won 83% of her first-serve points, surpassing her already impressive tour-leading record of 74.9% at the majors in 2025.
The 2023 Australian Open finalist maintained her perfect record in Melbourne Park opening rounds, moving to 7-0. She hasn’t stumbled at the first hurdle of a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open.
Known for possessing one of the most powerful serves in the women’s game, Rybakina breezed through several service games in under 90 seconds. While her return game took time to warm up against world No. 100 Juvan, she struck at the crucial moment. With Juvan serving at 4-5, a double fault gave Rybakina an opening, which she seized with a cross-court backhand winner to take the first set.
Elena Rybakina was determined not to become another top-five casualty to Juvan, who holds wins over Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Pliskova. She broke the Slovenian early in the second set to lead 3-1. Despite facing a break point while serving for the match at 5-3, Elena Rybakina held her nerve, closing out the contest with her fifth ace of the day.
“The return was not going well, but then it was a matter of time, I was each game getting closer,” Rybakina reflected. “Some mistakes here and there, but it’s the first match, hopefully I’m just going to play better and better.”
Coming off a strong season where she captured three titles, including the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Rybakina looks to improve on her fourth-round exit to Madison Keys at the 2025 Australian Open. Next up, she faces Varvara Gracheva, an opponent against whom she has a dominant history, never dropping more than three games in a set.
Off the court, the 2022 Wimbledon champion is enjoying her time in Melbourne. “I really enjoy time in Australia,” she shared. “Here it’s a very nice city, some good breakfast places and also I have some friends here… I’m trying to focus more on the tournament and recovery.”
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
