Elena Rybakina has arrived in Qatar to compete in the Doha Open just two weeks after capturing the Australian Open title in Melbourne. The World No. 3, eager to sustain the momentum she generated at the season’s first Grand Slam, chose to forgo a lengthy break from the tour, unlike peers such as Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Naomi Osaka. This decision reflects her ambition to become the first woman since 2013 to win the Australian Open and then immediately claim the Doha title.
Since October, Rybakina has shown remarkable consistency, dropping only one match while maintaining a packed schedule. She impressed by advancing through three consecutive tournaments to qualify for the WTA Finals and then capturing the Riyadh championship, defeating Sabalenka in the final. Her form carried into 2026, where she reached the Brisbane International quarter-finals and dominated the Australian Open, conceding just one set on her path to the trophy with key victories over noted players Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka.
Rybakina’s Recent Performance and Recovery Before Doha Open
Despite a tough run of events from October through November, Rybakina began her current campaign with determination, which continued through January. After securing the Australian Open title, she arrived at the Doha Open with minimal rest but remained optimistic about her chances. The last player to achieve back-to-back wins at these tournaments was Victoria Azarenka in 2013. Since then, despite multiple Australian Open champions including Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, no one has successfully replicated that feat.
At a press conference in Doha, Rybakina shared her focus for the tournament, saying,
“Hopefully this week is going to be as good in Australia, but if not we have so many tournaments ahead, and there are big ones, so we’ll try to work on things and get good results. I think the matches is the best practices also at the end of the day. So we’ll see how I’m going to feel here and how the matches will go. But again, it’s a good practice, no matter what. We still try to work on some things with the team.”
She also revealed she had caught a minor cold during her return home but managed sufficient rest to recover prior to the Doha event. While the illness limited her post-Australian Open celebrations, Rybakina took the opportunity to relax with her team and explore Melbourne before heading to Qatar.
Rybakina Reflects on Differences Between Australian Open and Wimbledon Titles
In 2022, Rybakina won her first Wimbledon Championship by overcoming Ons Jabeur in the final, coming back from a set down to secure the title. At age 23, she became the youngest woman since 2011 to win Wimbledon and was the first female champion since 2006 to claim the title after dropping a set in the final. Before this breakthrough, her highest ranking was World No. 12.
When asked at the recent Doha Open press conference to compare her experiences winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open, Rybakina explained,
“Of course it is different, because at Wimbledon, first of all, it was really not expected. I think I wasn’t really prepared that way also, but in the end everything turned out great for me. Of course it was a lot of emotions, different ones. In Australia, I reached the final a couple years ago, so I kind of knew the road. Of course, every day is different, new expectations and probably my approach to each match is a little bit different.”
Her insight reveals the varying mental and emotional approaches involved in securing these two major titles, highlighting the growth and experience she has gained over time.
Prospects for Upcoming Tournaments and Doha Competition
Rybakina has attracted strong predictions from tennis experts and former players, many suggesting she could add more Grand Slam trophies to her résumé this season. Despite a less favorable history at the French Open, she remains hopeful of claiming that title in the future. At the current Doha Open, she is scheduled to face either China’s Xinyu Wang or Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in the second round, setting the stage for her continued pursuit of success.
This tournament represents an important opportunity for Rybakina not only to validate her current form but also to build confidence toward larger goals in the season. Her decision to maintain a busy schedule reflects her resilience and passion, traits that have propelled her to the upper echelons of the WTA rankings.
