Share

cover art for Rybakina Vs Sabalenka: Has The World No. 1 Battle Started?

Tennis & Bagels Podcast

Rybakina Vs Sabalenka: Has The World No. 1 Battle Started?

Season 6, Ep. 196
•

Hear me out: Elena Rybakina could end the year as World No.1.


Why? She has been playing the best tennis of her life in the past few months, has probably the best serve and forehand of the tour, can play well on all surfaces, and is capable of winning against Aryna Sabalanka anywhere, any day. And that's exactly what she's done lately.


Up to World No. 2 from down to No.12 at the Canadian Open 2025, Rybakina's level has soared, and even Sabalenka has been struggling against her. The Indian Wells final may have turned against her favour, but she had a match point, and Sabalenka needed to produce some of the most clutch tennis shots she can to win that match.


That being said, it's still an uphill battle. Sabalenka is so good so often that, to have a chance, Rybakina needs to match the intensity and win matches constantly. No first or second-round losses. Only quarter-finals and up.


And she still needs to truly prove herself on clay.


Can Elena Rybakina become the new WTA World No.1? I believe so.


Tell me what you think!


SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!


Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!

Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELS

Andre:

Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndre

BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.social

Vansh: https://x.com/vanshv2k

Owen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 195. Medvedev's Indian Wells run shows why Zverev can't win Majors.

    21:31||Season 6, Ep. 195
    Beating a dead horse? Maybe. But, personally, seeing Daniil Medvedev come through an extreme rough last two seasons, than come out in 2026 winning a title, beating Carlos Alcaraz (who was on a 16-0 winning streak to start the year) and pushing Jannik Sinner to play some of his best, most clutch tennis at the Indian Wells final, really made something clear to me:Alexander Zverev just doesn't possess a crucial trait of a Grand Slam champion - or, a trait that turns a good player into a history making player.SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Don't agree with me? That's fine! Reach out on Twitter/X and BlueSky Social :)Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre:Twitter/X - https://x.com/RolembergAndreBlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/andrerolemberg.bsky.socialVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 194. What Makes Alexandra Eala So Contagious (And Good For Tennis)

    19:32||Season 6, Ep. 194
    Alexandra Eala, the Filipina phenomenon, is ridiculously fun to watch. And her fans know that, other players know that, and the tours know too.But why is that? She isn't the hardest hitter. She is a great player, but still has some way before she can enter the tennis elite of the Top 10 and 5. Well, the talent is surely not lacking - but it's not just that that Eala has in abundance.Her on-court attitude, fighting spirit, celebrations, and then great presence and insightful answers in every interview, and on top of all that, she seems like just a great, kind, genuine person.Plus, party time with the Filipinos hits differently (and South Americans know the value of a party no matter where you are.)SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!Follow TENNIS AND BAGELS!Twitter/X: https://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSAndre: https://x.com/RolembergAndreVansh: https://x.com/vanshv2kOwen (BlueSky Social): https://bsky.app/profile/owensports.bsky.social

  • 193. Why The Two-Week Masters Across The Board Hurt The Sunshine Double

    28:30||Season 6, Ep. 193
    Big rambling time talking about why the spot where Indian Wells and Miami were in the PERFECT spot in the calendar for two-week 1000 events.In this episode:The season as a narrativeAwkward spots in the season where there's too much time between majors are great for two-week 1000 eventsShanghai as the only other Masters that could be in two weeksNo one can do this much tennis without getting tired. We need FOMO and build-up to care about the tournamentsPrestige isn't about how long a tournament isThanks for listening!Comments? Hmu on Twitter/X:https://x.com/RolembergAndrehttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSSUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel!

  • 192. Tennis Season 2026 - What to expect from the top players?

    34:12||Season 6, Ep. 192
    Tennis and Bagels solo time! My thoughts on how I see the season unfolding for the top players, especially those who made big at he Australian Open.A quick look into the overall progression of players from last year: who seems to be even better? Who has stagnated? Who's regressed?Alcaraz, Rybakina, Sabalenka are in my radar.I am starting to worry a little about Swiatek and Sinner.I personally continue to believe Zverev will never win a major title unless all the stars align - and he might even not be able to win it then.Comments? Hmu on Twitter/X:https://x.com/RolembergAndrehttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELSTennis ONE apphttps://download.tennis.one/

  • 191. What's next for the Tennis and Bagels Podcast?

    10:22||Season 6, Ep. 191
    Hello! Andre here, the podcast isn't dead. It's been definitely amazing to keep having Vansh and Steve Flink commenting on the biggest tournaments of the season, but I also got stuff I'd like to share with the world. Opinions, not so much commentary on match analysis (though there will be some of that.) It's not that I don't like it, but there's plenty of people doing a great job in it, so I want to look at the season through a narrative lens. What stories are being told? What will players do next? What key moments could define the year, even sometimes a whole career? THAT's what's interesting. And the tennis, of course. So many great matches to appreciated.Let's go, tennis.Follow me on Twitter (X, I guess.)https://x.com/RolembergAndreFollow Tennis and Bagelshttps://x.com/TennisAndBAGELS

  • 190. Alcaraz's Career Grand Slam, Elena Rybakina's revival - 2026 Australian Open Expert Recap with Steve Flink

    01:12:29||Season 6, Ep. 190

  • 189. US Open Recap with Steve Flink - Imperieous Alcaraz Dethrones Sinner for Second Title in NYC

    01:15:02||Season 6, Ep. 189
    Join us for a special episode of Tennis and Bagels as we sit down with Hall of Fame tennis journalist Steve Flink to break down the 2025 US Open.We cover it all:The excitement of attending matches live at Arthur Ashe StadiumThe tournament’s biggest storylines and dramatic upsetsHow champions rose to the occasion and secured their titlesBreakthrough performances from emerging playersThe electric New York atmosphere that makes the US Open unlike any other SlamThis conversation blends personal stories from Flushing Meadows with expert analysis, giving you both the fan’s thrill and the journalist’s perspective on tennis’ final major of the year.

  • 188. Roland Garros 2025 with Steve Flink - What an EPIC.

    01:31:22||Season 6, Ep. 188
    Steve Flink comes back to chat with Vansh about the absolute madness that was the 2025 edition of Roland Garros, the French Open.Crazy things happened, including singles finals between World nos 1 and 2 in both WTA and ATP sides, a massive victory for Coco Gauff over Aryna Sabalenka, who herself dethroned three-time defending champ Iga Swiatek, the deceptively good results from 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, and what was possibly the best Grand Slam final we've seen in the men's side since 2012 Austrlian Open between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - and a final without any of the Big 3 or 4.Still processing the tournamet? We are too.