ONE of the more underrated players on the WTA Tour, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina is quietly becoming one of the world’s best, even if she is not always rewarded for it. Given the lack of points awarded at the All-England Club last year, Rybakina’s Wimbledon triumph did not give the talented 23-year-old the reward on the world rankings the other Grand Slam winners received. But now the 22nd seed is preparing for a huge 2023 season.

After getting past Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the opening round 7-5 6-3, Rybakina completely blitz 22-year-old Slovenian Kaja Juvan in just 58 minutes. It was a remarkable performance from Rybakina, who had to wait around all day to get onto John Cain Arena. She made up for lost time though, winning 6-2 6-1 in comprehensive fashion.

“It was a really long day but I’m happy with my performance today and happy to go to the next round,” Rybakina said. “I think that I served really well and I played aggressive and for sure the conditions were different, but it’s for everybody the same. It’s the weather is unpredictable this time and it wasn’t easy but overall after a few points I just felt better and I tried to keep on playing the same.”

Heading into Wimbledon last year, Rybakina was not overly confident of her chances, saying she felt a fair way from being a Grand Slam winner. In an ironic twist of fate, the Kazakh would go on to have the tournament of her life and win Wimbledon as 17th seed at the event. When asked post-match how confident she was at Melbourne Park this year compared to Wimbledon, Rybakina said it was a different mentality.

“Every time I go to play I want to win of course,” she said. “Wimbledon was special. I didn’t have a good period before Wimbledon, I didn’t play well and also mentally I was a bit tired, even took a break before Wimbledon and this time I did good preseason, a good five weeks. Feeling well so of course I want to win this tournament and for now I’m just focusing on my next match.”

Waiting for her in the third round of the Australian Open is American 13th seed Danielle Collins. Like Rybakina, Collins knows what it takes to make a Grand Slam final, especially at Melbourne Park. Though she did not take home the title like her younger opponent, Collins is the reigning Australian Open runner-up. Rybakina will take confidence into the match, having beaten Collins just 18 days earlier in Adelaide, 5-7 6-2 6-3. That result levelled their head-to-head, after Collins had won a quarter final match at Silicon Valley in August, 2021.

When asked what she needed to do to come away with the win this time, Rybakina said she had to make the most of her return games, and remain consistent on serve.

“It’s going to be tough because she’s aggressive same as me and she has a very good serve so I have to be very focused on the return games and for sure on my service games,” she said. “It’s a tough match but we’ll see how it’s going to go.”