Elena Rybakina is through to the Round of 32 at the China Open! The 26-year-old WTA star held her ground against the USA’s Caty McNally to win 7-5, 4-6, and 6-3. The win didn’t come easy: The Kazakhstani sensation took a medical time-out in the second set of the match to tend to her right arm. However, while Rybakina let that set slip, she bounced back in style in the next to pocket the match and get in touching distance of the pack leaders.

In a post on X by OptaAce from September 26, Elena’s 2025 stats have been shared in comparison to her peers. “43 – Elena Rybakina (43) now is the player with the third most wins at WTA-level during 2025. Climbing,” the social media update states. Iga Swiatek sits on top of the list with 57 WTA-level wins to her name in 2025, while Aryna Sabalenka follows the former with 56 wins of her own. However, while the feat is undeniably a big moment for Elena, who just overtook Jessica Pegula in the number of wins in 2025, she still has a long way to go before catching up to Swiatek.

The Polish tennis star exited the US Open after a straight-set defeat to Amanda Anisimova, but made amends for the loss to some extent by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets to win the Korean Open just a couple of weeks later. At the China Open, Swiatek takes on home-bred star Yue Yuan in her first round match, slated for tomorrow. Sabalenka, on the other hand, is still reveling in the joy of winning the women’s title at the US Open and hasn’t entered either the Korean Open or the Chinese tournament. With that in mind, it can be speculated that Swiatek is going to extend her lead further.

Rybakina, despite having reached the semifinal stage and beyond in multiple competitions in 2025, failed to capitalize on the momentum on most occasions. Her win over Liudmila Samsonova in three sets to win the Internationaux de Strasbourg in May was her first major title in over a year.

And yet, despite her multiple heartbreaks in 2025, Elena Rybakina showed excellent grit tonight. In the second set, with McNally 5-4 up, the 2022 Wimbledon champion called for a medical timeout, citing troubles in her right elbow and arm. A physio rushed to the court and treated the star’s right shoulder before the latter could resume play.

The American qualifier has been on a hot streak and was hungry for an upset win over the No. 8 seed. And she didn’t miss the chance to take advantage of Rybakina’s troubles. With McNally having the next serve, Rybakina couldn’t fight back and ceded ground in the second set. The best-of-three format of the China Open saw the two foes on level terms before the final set. However, Elena managed to tap into her reserves and pushed through with gusto. So what could have prompted her to unleash her beast mode?

Rybakina exited last month’s Cincinnati Masters following a straight-set loss to Swiatek. Before that, in June, the Kazakh was also eliminated from the French Open by the same opponent. Maybe she’s just trying to meet the Polish star at the China Open to settle their score? Who knows! Or maybe the display of her iron will was just a reflection of the change of personnel in her team?

Elena Rybakina will hope to meet Iga Swiatek with better manpower

Elena exited the US Open in an unexpected fashion. Defeated by Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia in the fourth round, the Kazakh was left stunned. However, it didn’t take long for the seasoned WTA star to begin her redemption journey. After just a few days of her elimination from the New York tournament, Rybakina announced she would part ways with her Italian coach, David Sanguinetti, and instead place her faith in long-time comrade Stefano Vukov once again.

“I’ve never had any problems with him. It’s just nice to see him back in my box. We talk well, there’s never been any communication problems,” she told reporters about how Vukov’s suspension by the WTA never really bothered her. And so far, it looks like the change in personnel is working out well for Rybakina. Her victory over the American at the China Open was Elena’s 46th overall win of 2025, and she only has eyes for more!

Do you think Rybakina and Swiatek will cross paths again at the ongoing tourney? Who will reign supreme? Tell us your thoughts!