No matter how successful you are, there’s nothing more special than the support from the family. Hard to believe? Look at Elena Rybakina and her pillar of strength, her elder sister Anna. Be it motivating the Kazakh during her comeback or being a mental support, Anna Rybakina is exemplifying sister goals. Now that her talented sibling is showcasing a surprising personality on screen, she had the most interesting reaction confirming how she has been encouraging her sister toward success.

Rybakina channeled her confidence in the latest video on Tennis Channel. The Kazakhstani player withdrew from the 2024 US Open due to a lower back injury. Additionally, she separated from her long-time coach Stefano Vukov, and partnered with Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanisevic consequently. After missing out on the Asian Swing, this 2022 Wimbledon champion returned to the court at the WTA Finals in great spirit.

She shared a video on her IG story. The Tennis Channel also shared the video on the same platform. Rybakina looked gorgeous in a teal blue high-neck jumpsuit adorned with pearl earrings and a bracelet. With minimal makeup and a sleek ponytail, she channeled her “THAT GURL” look and mesmerized her followers. “When you have be that girl, you have no choice but to be that girl and I feel like I’m that girl,” says a person when the video starts, and then she asks Rybakina what happens if she wakes up and doesn’t feel like that girl. How does she feel like that girl? The Kazakhstani player’s response truly surprised everyone.  “Then go back to sleep and wake up again so you feel that girl,” said the Wimbledon champion showing a confident hairflip in the video. Sharing it, Tennis Channel captioned it, “Lena is THAT GURL 👑 #WTAFinalsRiyadh.” Anna popped in the comments section with a great reaction.

Anna Rybakina dropped three fire emojis that perfectly showcased how much she loved her younger sister’s great confidence during such an important tournament. Despite the attitude, things didn’t go well as the Kazakhstani player who lost her first match to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in straight sets. “Today was a tough one, I had some opportunities and chances in the first set, I had a lot of break points but didn’t convert them. Overall, I think it was a good one. From such a break, I think that was not so bad, the level of my game after just two and a half weeks of preparation. I’m looking forward to the next match and hopefully I can do better,” she said.

Rybakina played her first match in the WTA Tour Finals after the US Open. She confessed about coming to the tournament without much expectation. Her recent change in the coaching mentorship might also be a reason behind her defeat. However, the player feels truly confident partnering with Ivanisevic and looks forward to a better 2025 season.

Elena Rybakina thinks partnering with her new coach will be a “good change”

It is not unknown to Rybakina fans that her collaboration with her former coach, Vukov, fell over possibly because of their relation was sour. Despite the decision to part ways, Rybakina was respectful of Vukov. “I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 200. I think it’s just now next chapter of my career. I want to make next step,” she said.

However, when she talked about her expectations with her new coach, Goran Ivanisevic, she seemed confident. “I’m really looking forward to this partnership, I think he’s a great champion and he has so much experience, and I’m looking forward to starting. For me, it was important to get better, and with the help of the agents, we connected and we just decided to start working. … Of course, it’s a big change, but I think it’s going to be a good change,” the Kazakhstani player concluded.

Elena Rybakina might have lost her first match at the Finals but she still has a good chance. Elena will face Zheng Qinwen next before meeting the world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka on November 5. Do you think she will bounce back?