Rybakina Continues Dominance Over Top-10 Rivals

Kazakh star reaches second Indian Wells final with 12th straight win over elite opponents

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:09pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Elena Rybakina, the world No. 3 tennis player, has revealed the key to her remarkable run of victories over top-10 opponents, describing her success as the result of 'everything coming together.' The Kazakh star continued her dominance at Indian Wells, defeating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-4 to reach her second final at the event.

Why it matters

Rybakina's outstanding form has seen her win 12 consecutive matches against top-10 players, a streak that began in late 2025 and has carried over into 2026. Her consistency against the very best has positioned her as one of the most formidable forces in women's tennis heading into the rest of the season.

The details

Rybakina's victory over Svitolina marked her 12th straight triumph against top-10 opponents. Her impressive run began in late 2025 when she went 5-0 en route to winning the WTA Finals and securing record-breaking prize money in women's tennis. She closed that season with seven consecutive wins over elite opponents and has continued that momentum into 2026, where she has already beaten Jessica Pegula and Svitolina at Indian Wells.

  • Rybakina's outstanding form began in late 2025, when she went 5-0 en route to winning the WTA Finals.
  • Rybakina closed the 2025 season with seven consecutive wins over top-10 opponents.
  • At Indian Wells in 2026, Rybakina has already beaten Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina.

The players

Elena Rybakina

A Kazakh tennis player currently ranked world No. 3, known for her remarkable run of victories over top-10 opponents.

Elina Svitolina

A Ukrainian tennis player currently ranked world No. 9, who was defeated by Rybakina in the Indian Wells semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka

The world No. 1 tennis player, who Rybakina will face in the Indian Wells final.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Well, I think it has all come together. I think that I was always playing against top players well. Maybe the statistic is not the same, and I was losing these tough matches a bit more before, but I think with the years, with experience, I'm getting this consistency, so hopefully I can just keep on going. Also, you get to know the players much more, so you play against the same player multiple times, so you know what to expect. So I think it has all come together.”

— Elena Rybakina

What’s next

Rybakina will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final on Sunday at 11:00 am.

The takeaway

Rybakina's remarkable consistency against the top players in women's tennis has propelled her to new heights, positioning her as one of the most dominant forces in the sport as she continues her pursuit of Grand Slam titles and the world No. 1 ranking.