Elena Rybakina has enjoyed the best season of her career so far in 2026.
Rybakina was already a Grand Slam champion before this year, having won Wimbledon in 2022, but she has elevated her success even further this year.
After winning four titles in 2026, including the Australian Open and the US Open, Rybakina dethroned Aryna Sabalenka to become the new world number one.
Rybakina was unable to play the WTA Finals, after withdrawing for medical reasons, and now Brad Gilbert, Tracy Austin and Danielle Collins have reflected on her achievements this year.
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Tracy Austin praises Elena Rybakina after ‘Hall of Fame inductee year’
When discussing Rybakina on Tennis Channel, Coco Gauff’s former coach, Gilbert, praised the Kazakhstani as the WTA player with the best serve-plus-one on tour right now. Former world number one Austin was also full of praise for Rybakina, who she suggested has done enough in this year alone to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame after she retires.
“I actually feel like she played a little bit steadier this year,” said Gilbert. “Because she does pull trigger, but I actually think she has been more patient and her serve-plus-one is the most dominant combination on the women’s tour.”
Austin followed, “I think it was really important that she stayed healthy through most of the year, because the last couple of years she has been so sporadic on the tour. I also think it was really important that she won Ningbo last year to just qualify for the WTA Finals and went undefeated at the end of last year and started this year with momentum.
“This year is already a Hall of Fame inductee year, even if it was just this year alone with the two majors and becoming the 30th WTA player to become number one in the world.”
Former Australian Open finalist Collins added, “Yeah, I mean the serve-plus-one she has become the most dominant with that I think out of any player on tour.
“Then on top of it she has had her most healthy season, she has been able to play more tournaments. When we look back on previous years there were some health setbacks and illness that she was dealing with. This year she’s been a lot healthier, so she’s been able to get out there more and pick up that consistency.”
Rybakina’s 2026 season has ended in disappointment after her health setback, but it has still been a season to remember for the world number one who will return to the WTA Tour next year ahead of her Australian Open title defence.
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