Former US Open champion Andy Roddick recently made a notable prediction regarding the outcomes expected at this year’s US Open, focusing on the rivalry between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Roddick favored Rybakina to reach the semifinals, despite Sabalenka’s defending champion status and their competitive head-to-head history.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka have faced off 12 times in professional tennis, with Sabalenka holding a slight edge at 7-5. Their first encounter took place at the 2019 Wuhan Open, which was Rybakina’s first WTA 1000 event. Although she put forth a strong effort, Rybakina fell in straight sets to the defending champion Sabalenka. Their two Grand Slam meetings, at Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2023, also saw Sabalenka emerge victorious.
Nonetheless, Rybakina showed marked improvement recently at the Cincinnati Open, where she convincingly defeated Sabalenka in the quarterfinals. Despite this impressive win, Rybakina was stopped in the semifinals by eventual tournament winner Iga Swiatek.
In the lead-up to the US Open, Andy Roddick expressed confidence in Rybakina’s chances of advancing to the semifinals, even predicting she could outperform Sabalenka. He acknowledged the difficult path she would face, which includes beating skilled players such as Jasmine Paolini and Sabalenka herself.
Andy Roddick’s Perspective on the Rybakina-Sabalenka Matchup
During a discussion on the Served podcast, where commentator Jon Wertheim favored Sabalenka, Roddick offered a contrasting view on a potential showdown between the two players:
“This is where I get stuck because in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, I think I want to take Rybakina right now. For Rybakina to get to the semis, where I want her to get to, she has to get through Paolini and Sabalenka, hypothetically back-to-back, so it’s like, ‘Do I hedge and put Sabalenka in the semis just because I like that path a little bit better?’ I don’t know, I have Rybakina in the semifinals.” —Andy Roddick
Wertheim responded with surprise to Roddick’s preference for Rybakina over the defending champion, saying, “Whoa! Over the defending champion?” Roddick then clarified that his predictions often create a paradox for Sabalenka’s performance, noting a curious pattern in their outcomes.
“Which should make Aryna’s day because I’ve picked her in every Slam so far, and she hasn’t won, so I’m actually doing her a favor. Last time I picked against her, she won, so ‘Congratulations, Sabalenka, you just won the tournament I picked Rybakina.'” —Andy Roddick
US Open Opening Matches: Sabalenka and Rybakina’s Starts
At the US Open, Elena Rybakina will face Julieta Pareja in her first-round match, while Aryna Sabalenka looks to defend her title against Rebeka Masarova. Both players will begin their campaigns with challenges that could set the tone for their tournament runs.
Highlights from Sabalenka and Rybakina During US Open Fan Week
During US Open Fan Week activities in New York, Aryna Sabalenka stood out by participating in several brand endorsement events and exploring the city streets. She also practiced at the USTA Billie Jean King National Center and made a guest appearance during a training session led by Novak Djokovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina teamed up with Taylor Fritz in the mixed doubles event but exited in the round of 16, losing to the eventual champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori by scores of 4-2, 4-2.
As the tournament progresses, both Sabalenka and Rybakina remain key contenders to watch, with Roddick’s confident prediction adding an intriguing layer to their rivalry. The upcoming matches will reveal if Rybakina can live up to his forecast or if Sabalenka will once again defend her US Open crown with determination.