Article by Roxana Fleşeru – Published Saturday, April 18, 2026, 8:05 p.m. / Updated Saturday, April 18, 2026, 8:15 p.m.
Elena Rybakina (26 years old, 2 WTAs) will meet Karolina Muchova (29 years old, 12 WTAs) in the last act of the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart. The player from Kazakhstan also played in the finals of the Australian Open and Indian Wells in 2026. She prevailed on clay in Germany in 2024.
Melbourne champion Elena Rybakina continues her excellent season. The world number two defeated Mirra Andreeva (18 years, 9 WTA) 7-5, 6-1 in the semifinals in Stuttgart on Saturday, qualifying for the second time in the final act of this tournament, after winning in 2024.
The victory in the penultimate act is all the more precious as, on Friday night, she managed to escape from an extremely complicated match against Canadian Leylah Fernandez, whom she defeated 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (6). The main favorite will have Karolina Muchova as her opponent, with whom she will fight on Sunday for the trophy and a Porsche 911.
In 2024, when she won against Marta Kostyuk, Rybakina received a Porsche Taycan, a car that motivated her to get her driver's license. After the semi-final match, she confessed that she still has room in her garage for a Porsche. “I don't have that. It's a great motivation right on the field. Whenever you're not focused or maybe you're frustrated, you just have to look at the cars, set a goal and try to do your best.” said the world number two player.
24 winsrecorded Elena Rybakina in 2026, one more than Aryna Sabalenka, tied with Jessica Pegula
Asked if she knows how to drive down a ramp at the wheel of a car, she replied: “There will be pressure, but let's not think about it now. The most important thing is to recover and we will see what happens. I will try to give my best and hope to win it.” she pointed out.
37 wins ahead of the Top 10 players is Elena Rybakina in her career, with seven being successful this year.
Elena Rybakina can enter a select list if she prevails in Stuttgart again
In the last 20 years since the tournament has been held in Stuttgart, Maria Sharapova is the player who has won the most times, winning in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Justine Henin, Angelique Kerber and Iga Swiatek have won twice each.
To reach this list, Rybakina has to get past Karolina Muchova, who defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the semifinals. It will be the fourth meeting between the two, the Czech winning in two games.
This season, Elena Rybakina also played in the finals of the Australian Open, where she won, and Indian Wells, where she was defeated.
