It was only a few years ago that Elena Rybakina didn’t have enough money to pay for private tennis lessons.
Fast forward to January 2023 and she’s being tipped by some of the game’s greats to win half a dozen grand slam titles or more.
She already has one to her name, triumphing at last year’s Wimbledon tournament.
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The 23-year-old is now two successful sets away from lifting her second major trophy, having won through to Saturday’s Australian Open final.
The Moscow-born Kazakhstan flag-bearer did so with a powerful 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Victoria Azarenka on Rod Laver Arena.
It was during that contest that American great Jim Courier posed a question to the Nine commentary box.
“What does the future hold for her – two majors? Is she going to win five? Where’s the ceiling for her?” Courier asked.
Jelena Dokic didn’t hesitate in her praise for the rising star.
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“I mean, she has a good chance (to win this tournament), it will be her second grand slam out of her last three so she’s starting to dominate on to the big stage,” Dokic said.
“I see someone that is a multiple grand slam champion, maybe five, six slams. I definitely see more than two.
“It will depend on the injuries. But if she stays healthy, definitely. I see her dominating together with Iga Swiatek over the next five to eight years, no doubt about that.
Semifinal Highlights: Elena Rybakina v Victoria Azarenka
“I actually think she’s even getting better. I think her game, she has things to work on and is still working on, but her weapons are so well produced. I love what I’m seeing.
“Why I also think there’ll be consistency and longevity in her career is she is technically so sound, the grips, the swings, every single shot.
“There’s really not much to change out there, just little additions – maybe adding the slice to her game, coming forward. Yes, I see someone that’s going to win a lot.”
Rybakina is now coached by the renowned Andrei Chesnokov.
Rybakina unpacks semi win
But her career was a little slow to get off the ground, and her family had to work harder than most to get Rybakina to the elite level.
“She was coached only in groups for a while until she was 16, 17 because she couldn’t afford private lessons,” Sam Smith told Nine.
“Now she’s motoring.”
Rybakina had her parents and her sister in the Rod Laver Arena crowd to watch her victory over Azarenka.
He opponent was also full of praise following the match.
“I think she’s a great player. She obviously has big weapons,” two-time Australian Open champ Azarenka told reporters.
“I think that if she improves couple areas, she’s going to be better, as well.”
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