Remember what Elena Rybakina said after clinching the title at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open? “I think the biggest goal is, of course, to be No. 1.“ Well, let alone reaching the top spot, Rybakina hasn’t even participated in the Grand Slams consistently ever since. While she has struggled with her form and health issues, coaching woes have only made it worse! However, as she is about to start her campaign at the Indian Wells 2025, things seem to be settling down. What does Rybakina’s road to glory at the Indian Wells look like, potentially?

Previously, while speaking about her goals in the 2025 season, Rybakina said, “Above all, I want to stay healthy, as in 2024, I missed many tournaments and could not participate in some important events… I want to win big titles, of course; that is my goal on the court.“ Although she came closer to clinching titles multiple times last year, the Kazakh failed to deliver in the first Slam this season. She was defeated in the fourth round of the AO by America’s Madison Keys.

After that, she made a strong comeback at the Abu Dhabi Open by reaching the SF, but went down to the Swiss star, Belinda Bencic, losing by 6-3,3-6,4-6. Rybakina also reached the QF in Doha and the SF at the Dubai Tennis Championships but failed to change her fortunes in both these tournaments. But can she showcase her old magic at ‘Tennis Paradise’ this year? Well, the women’s draw for the Indian Wells is out, and the road to the QF looks quite smooth for Rybakina.

The 25-year-old has been handed a bye in the first round, and she could possibly face Marie Bouzkova (CZE) in the second round. Bouzkova hasn’t played a match since her first-round exit from the 2025 AO. On top of that, Rybakina currently has a 4-0 lead over her in the H2H record. So, the Kazakh will start this match as a clear favorite, and if she wins, she might face the Brit Katie Boulter in the R3. Even against Boulter, Elena Rybakina has a 1-0 lead in their head-to-head.

Considering her form this season so far, it should not be a tough ask for Rybakina to beat Boulter. And, if she manages to do that, she could face either Mirra Andreeva or Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Rybakina was recently defeated by Andreeva in the SF of the Dubai Tennis Championships. So, she might be looking for revenge if this scenario unfolds.

On the flip side, she hasn’t faced Naomi Osaka yet in her career. The 4-time GS champion Osaka has yet to get back to her vintage form, so Rybakina will probably still have the upper hand if she faces the Japanese star in the R4.

However, Rybakina’s biggest challenges will start from the QF. She might face either Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Elina Svitolina, or Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 8. Pegula is entering the Indian Wells following her title triumph at the ATX Open, and she currently has a lead of 3-1 over Rybakina in the H2H. Rybakina, however, has a 3-2 lead over Collins, Svitolina, and Ostapenko. So, either of these three will be an easier opponent for the Kazakhstani star.

If Rybakina manages to overcome all these hurdles, she might face the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, in the SF. Although both of them are currently leveled at 4-4 in their H2H record, Swiatek has won their previous two meetings with Rybakina and this year itself! So, keep your seatbelts tight if they lock horns in the semifinals at the Indian Wells.

If Rybakina gets to the final, her probable opponents could be either Coco Gauff or Aryna Sabalenka. Although the 2022 Wimbledon champion has an edge over Gauff in the H2H record, she currently trails Sabalenka by a 4-6 margin. So, she might want to avoid facing the ‘Tigress.’

Despite the ongoing turmoil in her coaching team with Goran Ivanisevic leaving and Stefano Vukov still being sidelined because of suspension, Elena Rybakina has been putting in the hard yards in practice. But it’s hard to remain unfazed after all the controversy. What was Rybakina’s reaction when she first heard the news about the ban on her ex-coach?

“I have never made any complaints,” Elena Rybakina voices support for her ex-coach

Elena Rybakina started working with Stefano Vukov a long time ago. He even helped her clinch a maiden Grand Slam title at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. However, last year, she parted ways with Vukov right before the US Open, before bringing in Goran Ivanisevic to her team as a replacement, but then, in January 2025, Rybakina announced that she wanted Vukov to rejoin her team. Later, when the news about Vukov’s suspension for a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct came to the limelight, many interesting details emerged, and none of them put Vukov in a good light.

Previously, ex-pros Laura Robson and Pam Shriver had raised voices against Vukov’s behavior towards Rybakina. As per the report of the Athletic, Portia Archer, the CEO of the WTA Tour, mentioned in a confidential summary sent to Vukov that he had breached the code of conduct by “ridiculing and abusing” Rybakina during coaching.

The summary also mentioned that Vukov had called the Kazakh “stupid” and “retarded.” Archer wrote that Vukov had once told Rybakina she’d still be “picking potatoes” without him. The report highlighted how Vukov’s “mental abuse” and his tendency to push Rybakina beyond her limits had caused her “physical illness.”

However, Rybakina backed her former coach, saying, “I don’t agree with a lot of things what WTA do in the sense of my relationship with Stefano…As I said before, I have never made any complaints or any of these things. I always said that he never mistreated me.” Then again, after the ban was upheld, the Kazakh stressed that she was “disappointed” with the situation and how the process went.

Do you think Rybakina can overcome this adversity and come out with a strong performance at the Indian Wells?