‘She wants more’ - Elena Rybakina has the ‘mindset’ to win Australian Open, says Barbara Schett
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ByEurosport
Updated 24/01/2023 at 07:57 GMT
Elena Rybakina started the 2023 Australian Open on Court 13, but has gone on to become one of the Grand Slam's main protagonists. The reigning Wimbledon champion has knocked out world No. 13 Danielle Collins, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 17 seed Jelena Ostapenko en route to the Australian Open semi-finals, dropping just one set along the way. Barbara Schett thinks she can win the Slam.
'It's unbelievable how she's playing' - Eurosport analysis of Rybakina reaching semi-finals
Elena Rybakina has the “mindset” to be able to win a second Grand Slam title of her career after reaching her first Australian Open semi-final, says Barbara Schett.
The Kazakhstani surprised the tennis world when she won Wimbledon last summer and has now breezed past 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets to reach the last four in Melbourne.
Schett believes Rybakina has the mentality and overall game required to go on and win another Grand Slam title.
“It’s unbelievable the level she’s playing at the moment,” she said.
“It’s just a few months back when we watched her win at Wimbledon and that’s exactly how she plays here, she’s so cool and composed.
“She falls back to the strengths of her game, that’s obviously the serve and I wonder how it feels when you can always rely on your serve and she can do that.
“She wants more, she wants another title and the first couple of rounds, she was scheduled on Court 13 and smaller courts, and finally people, even before that round were talking about her again.
“I really think she has the capability to win another Grand Slam title, especially with that mindset she has.”
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Rybakina through to first AO semi-final after beating Ostapenko in straight sets
Tim Henman agrees that the world No. 23 can go all the way in Melbourne.
“I love so many aspects of her game,” he said.
“At the end there she was cool, calm and collected to finish it off, understated to finish it off but in terms of ball striking, she hits it as well as anyone. I think she has a great chance of another title.”
Rybakina has fired 29 aces in her run to the semi-finals which is more than any other women’s player at this Grand Slam.
Mats Wilander wonders whether she is the best server in the women’s game and has also been impressed by the 23-year-old’s mentality.
“She played brilliantly in the Wimbledon final,” he said.
“The talk and all the pressure was on Ons Jabeur in that match but she reacted great to it. I loved the celebration she had after that Wimbledon final, it was very subdued.
“Of course there were no ranking points when she’s a top tenner, a top fiver, two, three or even No. 1 in the world one day as she has a huge game, best serve in the woman’s game, maybe?”
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'Best serve in the women's game' - Eurosport reaction to Rybakina reaching semi-finals
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