Defending champion Elena Rybakina was pushed to the brink in her Abu Dhabi Open opener, narrowly avoiding a shocking upset at the hands of Katie Volynets. The World No. 4 needed a gritty comeback to seal a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory and book her spot in the quarterfinals.
Despite struggling with erratic play and a high unforced error count, Rybakina managed to find her rhythm when it mattered most, keeping her title defense alive.
Volynets Nearly Pulls Off the Upset
For a set and a half, Katie Volynets looked poised to stun the defending champion. The American came out firing, breaking Rybakina twice in the opening set and dominating the longer rallies.
- Rybakina’s first set struggles: 59 unforced errors overshadowed her 43 winners
- Volynets nearly took control in the second set, coming within two games of victory
But just when it looked like an early exit was inevitable, Rybakina flipped the switch.
Rybakina’s Late Surge Saves the Day
Trailing midway through the second set, Rybakina dug deep, relying on her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game to force a decider.
In the third set, she finally found some momentum, racing to a 5-2 lead before Volynets mounted one final comeback attempt. The American cut the deficit to 5-4, but Rybakina held her nerve to close out the match.
A Far Cry from Their Last Meeting
This wasn’t the dominant performance many expected from Rybakina, especially considering her 6-4, 6-0 demolition of Volynets at Roland Garros.
With coaching changes and early-season inconsistency still impacting her form, Rybakina has yet to hit her stride in 2025.
She’ll need to step up her game fast—because her next challenge could be even tougher.
Next Up: A High-Stakes Clash with Belinda Bencic?
If Rybakina hopes to keep her title defense alive, she may have to battle Belinda Bencic, who breezed past Veronika Kudermetova with a brutal 6-0, 6-0 whitewash victory.
- Bencic looks sharp and will pounce on Rybakina’s inconsistency if given the chance.
- Rybakina needs to clean up her errors if she wants to avoid another near-disaster.
One thing is clear—she can’t afford another slow start.
Can Rybakina Find Her Best Form?
While her Abu Dhabi title defense remains intact, Rybakina is far from her dominant best. If she hopes to repeat as champion, she’ll need to sharpen her game, cut down on mistakes, and start strong in the next round.
Otherwise, her reign in Abu Dhabi could end much sooner than expected.
