Rybakina not putting pressure on herself before Sabalenka showdown: The truth behind the claim

Elena Rybakina stepped into the press room at Flushing Meadows with a slight smile. She had just defeated Coco Gauff in the 2026 US Open semifinal with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 – an emotional victory over the defending champion and much-loved home favorite. But what caught the media's attention was not the match's flow, but her statement about the upcoming showdown with Aryna Sabalenka. “I am not putting pressure on myself,” Rybakina said, her tone calm. “No matter who is on the other side of the net, I only focus on what I can control.” That seemingly simple sentence carried a deeper layer of meaning, especially given the tournament's actual context and the factual inaccuracies some news outlets had reported. The context of the 2026 season saw Rybakina and Sabalenka as two fires clashing in women's tennis. Sabalenka, the defending Australian Open 2026 champion (beating Zheng Qinwen in the January final), dominated hard courts with her powerful style. Rybakina, Wimbledon 2026 champion and Australian Open 2026 runner-up (losing to Sabalenka in the 2026 final 4-6, 6-3, 6-4), is considered Sabalenka's most uncomfortable opponent. Their rivalry has become a classic: two aggressive baseliners relying heavily on serves and short rallies under four shots. However, a crucial fact that many articles omitted or misunderstood: the 2026 US Open final was not Rybakina vs Sabalenka. In reality, Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win the title. Rybakina stopped in the semifinals against Gauff. This error is not just a minor mistake; it reflects how media tends to 'construct' larger-than-life stories, especially involving top players. Rybakina, 25, has one of the best serves on the WTA. Her first-serve points won percentage is elite, but her weaknesses lie in movement and second-serve quality. In the semifinal against Gauff, she had to withstand her opponent's excellent defensive play – a tactical puzzle that Sabalenka, with her flat, powerful shots, will exploit fully. Yet Rybakina's 'no pressure' declaration is a rational psychological tactic. When a match depends heavily on serve, keeping a relaxed mind helps maintain rhythm and avoid costly double faults. Historically, Sabalenka was known for fragility in crucial moments – consecutive double faults in the third set were a weakness Rybakina can exploit. But what happens if Rybakina's first-serve percentage drops below 60%? That is when she becomes vulnerable, and Sabalenka – an elite returner – will make her pay. A contrarian view rarely mentioned: the truth about Rybakina's ranking. Many news outlets reported that she would become world No. 1 on Monday after the US Open, or that she won the 2026 Australian Open. This information is completely false. Rybakina's career high ranking is No. 3; she has never reached No. 1. The 2026 Australian Open belongs to Sabalenka, not Rybakina. The gap between actual data and public perception is vast. While Rybakina is a top-level player, with a Grand Slam title and multiple WTA 1000/500 titles, she has yet to have a dominant season like Sabalenka or Iga Świątek. This raises questions about how we evaluate talent: are we over-glamorizing players with impressive styles but not sustained peaks? Or are we simply swept away by the glamorous stories media creates? Based on my years of experience watching matches, I recognize that Rybakina is at a special phase in her career. She admits to 'ups and downs' and recurring health issues – a sign that she is not in optimal physical condition. 'There are things off the court,' she said, hinting at personal difficulties. This makes her form 'spiky' rather than 'flat': titles come in bursts, interspersed with withdrawals due to injury. In a Grand Slam final, if the opponent is Sabalenka, Rybakina's 'no pressure' mindset is essentially a survival strategy. She knows the match will be decided by key points – and whoever controls emotions better will have the edge. Looking ahead, the Rybakina–Sabalenka rivalry will remain a WTA focal point in the coming years. Both represent a power generation where strong shots dominate. But the lesson from the US Open 2026 misinformation is a reminder: we must look at actual data, not the stories media constructs. Rybakina may not be world No. 1, but she is a player capable of doing great things in any match. And when she steps onto court against Sabalenka, the real question is not 'will she win?' but 'can she maintain her composure to seize decisive moments?' Statistics are just seasoning. The human is the main course. And in the dish called WTA, Rybakina is that special seasoning – not always prominent, but when properly applied, she can change the entire flavor of the match.