It was bound to happen eventually.
Elena Rybakina began her career with 12 titles in 12 different tournaments, but after defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 in 1 hour and 18 minutes Sunday in Stuttgart, the pattern has been broken. The 2024 champion claimed her first successful repeat title by winning the 2026 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Her path to the trophy wasn’t exactly smooth. Rybakina finished the week with three straight-sets victories, but in between those routine wins she had to save two match points in a three-hour quarterfinal thriller against Leylah Fernandez just to reach the semifinals.
By week’s end, though, the World No. 2 was back to operating at full strength, closing out the tournament with authority to secure her 13th WTA singles title.
More to come…