Andy Roddick shares advice for Elena Rybakina after Sabalenka loss

Elena Rybakina fell short in the Indian Wells final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka despite having a championship point.

Elena Rybakina suffered a painful defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final, falling short despite holding a championship point in the deciding tie-break.

The loss ended a strong run in their rivalry, where Rybakina had previously won four consecutive finals against the world number one. Following the match, Andy Roddick offered insight into the mindset he believes the Kazakhstani should adopt moving forward.

Roddick: Rybakina should believe she’s at Sabalenka’s level

Speaking on his podcast, Roddick explained that Rybakina’s camp should reinforce her confidence rather than dwell on the defeat.

“If you’re in her team, you’re telling her she’s absolutely as good as Sabalenka right now,” he said. “You can debate stats, but from a coaching perspective, I’m pushing that belief — that she’s right there, maybe even better.”

Roddick pointed to Rybakina’s recent form, including her Australian Open triumph, as evidence that she belongs at the very top of the women’s game.

He also highlighted her mentality in big matches. “She’s not afraid of tough situations. She respects top players, but there’s no way she doesn’t see herself on that same level — even after this loss.”

Miami Open offers Rybakina chance to close gap

Despite the defeat, Rybakina climbed to a career-high world No.2 ranking, though she still trails Sabalenka by 3,242 points.

Encouragingly, she currently leads the race to the WTA Finals after her strong start to the 2026 season — underlining her consistency at the highest level.

The Miami Open now presents a major opportunity. Having lost early at the event last year, Rybakina has minimal points to defend, while Sabalenka arrives as the defending champion.

As the third seed, Rybakina receives a bye into the second round, where she will face either Janice Tjen or Yulia Putintseva.

With potential matchups against players like Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Iva Jovic later in the draw, a deep run in Florida could significantly reduce the gap to the world number one — and reinforce Roddick’s belief that she is already operating at that level.

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