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Elena Rybakina highlights there are "many things" that can be learned from Novak Djokovic and admits she would love if she could add the Serb's return and mental strength to her game.
Over the last two years, 24-year-old Rybakina has made a massive improvement in her game and she is now widely considered one of the best players in the game.
At this week's opening WTA 1000 tournament of the year in Doha, Rybakina made the final before Iga Swiatek handed her a 7-6 (8) 6-2 loss. After beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Doha semifinal, Rybakina was asked what she would take from record 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic's game.
"There are many things that I would take from Djokovic, but certainly return and mental strength in matches. You can really take a lot from him," Rybakina said, via Sport Klub.
Rybakina and Djokovic won the Wimbledon title in 2022
Less than a month after turning 23, Rybakina became a Grand Slam champion at 2022 Wimbledon after coming back from a set down to beat Ons Jabeur 3-6 6-2 6-2. That same year, Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios in the final for his seventh Wimbledon title.
Leading up to 2022 Wimbledon, Rybakina went 1-2 in her two tournaments played before The Championships. Due to her form and the fact that she was ranked in the mid-20s, Rybakina wasn't considered among the favorites for the Wimbledon title.
But something just clicked in Rybakina's game during those two weeks as the Kazakh's aggressive style and big game guided the Kazakh to her first Grand Slam title. En route to winning Wimbledon, Rybakina also beat 2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep 6-3 6-3.
Since winning Wimbledon, Rybakina has won four other WTA titles - she now has two WTA 1000 titles in her collection - and she has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world.
Rybakina is now one of the best in the game and it is not a secret that her goal is to win more Grand Slams and reach the world No. 1 ranking one day.