Elena Rybakina beat the Chinese Xinyu Wang by 6/4 and 6/4 in the second round of the WTA 1000 of The Kazakh, current number 3 in the world and champion of the Australian Open less than two weeks ago, needed just over an hour and a half to overcome her opponent and advance to the round of 16.
The match confirmed Rybakina’s excellent performance on hard courts. Ela lost early games in both sets, but reacted quickly with decisive breaks of serve and gave her rival no chance from then on.
The result extends the undefeated streak of the Cazaquistão tennis player, who has not lost since October 2025. With the triumph,
Match details against Wang
Rybakina started the first set at a disadvantage after losing the first two games. The Kazakh balanced the actions from 2/3 onwards and put together a series of five consecutive games, with two breaks of serve, to close at 6/4.
In the second set, Wang took the lead with an early break, making it 2/1. Rybakina responded immediately, returned the break in the next game and consolidated his dominance by winning the last games of the match.
The Chinese, number 33 in the ranking, resisted as long as she could, but was unable to maintain her pace given the power of her opponent’s strikes. Rybakina ended the match with a high percentage of service points and few unforced errors.
Undefeated streak after Australian Open
Rybakina is enjoying the best start to the season of her career. The Doha victory marks the continuation of an impressive run that includes the Australian Open title, achieved at the end of January 2026.
The Kazakh arrived at the Australian Grand Slam as one of the favorites and confirmed her status by overcoming strong rivals along the way. The performance on Melbourne reinforced his reputation as a leading force on fast courts.
Before Doha, Rybakina had already won important tournaments at the end of 2025, such as the WTA 500 of Ningbo and the Masters of The current streak has more than 20 consecutive victories in official games.
- Recent major tournament wins:
- Australian Open 2026 (title)
- Masters of Rijade 2025 (title)
- WTA 500 of Ningbo 2025 (title)
- Quarterfinals at Doha 2025 (points defense)
Implications for the world ranking
The Doha tournament awards up to 1000 points to the champion. Rybakina, which defends quarter-final points from the previous edition, gains ground with each victory achieved this week.
Iga Świątek, current number 2 in the world, defends more points as a former semi-finalist of the event. The difference between the two is below 400 points, and a good result from the Kazakh could reverse the order in the next update.
Aryna Sabalenka continues to lead the ranking, but is absent in Doha. The scenario favors significant movements at the top of the women’s ranking throughout the season.
Rybakina has already demonstrated the ability to challenge her main rivals in direct confrontations. Recent history includes important victories against top 5 tennis players on hard surfaces.
Upcoming challenges in the tournament
In the round of 16, Rybakina will face the winner of the clash between Coco Gauff and another qualifier. The American represents a more demanding test, but the Kazakh’s current form inspires confidence.
The WTA 1000 of Doha brings together a strong bracket, with several top seeds still alive. Rybakina appears as one of the main candidates for the title, especially given the pace presented so far.
The intense calendar at the beginning of the year does not seem to affect the tennis player’s performance. Ela reached Qatar just a week after the final in Melbourne and maintains a high level of concentration.
Dominance on hard courts
Rybakina has built a solid reputation on fast surfaces over the past few years. The power of the serve and the deep court shots favor his style on hard courts.
The campaign at Australian Open 2026 included matches decided with authority. The Kazakh lost few sets on the way to the title and controlled most of the long rallies.
In Doha, similar conditions benefit your characteristics. Qatar’s moderate altitude also helps with punching speed, something that Rybakina exploits well.
Compared to other tops, the Kazakh’s recent consistency stands out. Enquanto some rivals deal with tactical adjustments, it maintains impressive regularity.
Context of the 2026 season
The women’s circuit is experiencing a moment of high competitiveness. Três different players have already won major tournaments at the beginning of the year, signaling balance at the top.
Rybakina emerges as the protagonist after Australian Open. The title in Melbourne was the second Grand Slam of her career and consolidated her position among the favorites.
Świątek, despite defending points, remains a reference on other surfaces. The Pole concentrates her preparation for the clay season, where she accumulates historic results.
The WTA 1000 of Doha serves as an important preparation for the next Masters. Indian Wells and Miami complete the North American tour in March.
Numbers that impress
Rybakina accumulates impressive statistics in the current season. The percentage of points won with the first serve exceeds 75% in most matches.
The Kazakh also leads in winners among the tops in recent tournaments. The average number of aces per game remains high, exploiting the strength of the serve.
Against Wang, she converted four of seven break points. The break point defense was also efficient, saving most of the Chinese’s chances.
These numbers reflect the tactical control that Rybakina imposes. The ability to turn games around even when starting behind demonstrates competitive maturity.
