Tennis

Mats Wilander makes big prediction about Elena Rybakina: 10 Grand Slam finals

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Mats Wilander has made a major prediction about Elena Rybakina as he is tipping the 23-year-old Kazakh to reach at least 10 Grand Slam finals. 

Rybakina, who will be turning 24 in June, captured her first Grand Slam title last July at Wimbledon. 

Now, Rybakina has been through to her second Grand Slam final after beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4) 6-3 in the Australian Open semifinal. 

Rybakina doesn’t show many emotions on the court as she is calm and composed in every situation.

Because of that attitude and approach, Wilander feels Rybakina is destined for more major success. 

“It’s huge now, but in five years it’s not huge, because she’s going to make 10 Grand Slam finals with that kind of game and personality. She’s so calm and mellow throughout, she’s just starting out. The tournament isn’t over, it’s the semi-finals, and the goal is to win the tournament and win many more of these,” Wilander told Eurosport

Wilander, Laura Robson tip Rybakina to make ‘many more’ Grand Slam finals

Like Wilander, Robson also believes this is not the last time that Rybakina has made a Grand Slam final. 

“I thought her forehand and first serve were off tonight. It just wasn’t quite the percentages we’re used to seeing from her. But if that’s her on a bad day, that’s a really good sign, to come through in straight sets against Azarenka, who was giving it everything. This is going to be one of many Grand Slam finals for Rybakina,” Robson said of Rybakina. 

In her first Grand Slam final, Rybakina recovered from a set down to beat Ons Jabeur. 

Now, Rybakina is facing world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.

Against Sabalenka, Rybakina has a negative 0-3 record.

However, it should be noted that their last meeting on the main stage came at 2021 Wimbledon.

Rybakina is now a much better player and Sabalenka will certainly take the Kazakh very seriously. 

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