Elena Rybakina continues sizzling start to 2026

Top-seeded Elena Rybakina continued her outstanding 2026 campaign by overwhelming sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the finals of the ​Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, will ‌face No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in Sunday’s final. Muchova pulled off a mild upset with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No. ​4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

Rybakina, who won the 2026 Australian Open ​and reached the finals at Indian Wells, exchanged breaks with ⁠Andreeva before winning four of five points on the Russian’s serve to ​capture the first set. She cruised in the second set, winning a ​combined 21 of 25 points on her first serves and Andreeva’s second service offerings.

The deciding set between Muchova and Svitolina looked to be going the distance, but the Czech ​won the final eight points of the match – four on her ​opponent’s serve in the ninth game – to set up the fourth all-time meeting with Rybakina. ‌Muchova ⁠has won two of three prior matches, including a quarterfinal victory in January at Brisbane.

Rouen Metropolitan Open

Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine cruised past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-0 to reach the finals in Rouen, France.

Kostyuk will ​take on teenage qualifier ​and countrywoman ⁠Veronika Podrez. She advanced in a walkover prior to her scheduled match against Romania’s Sonia Cirstea, who withdrew due ​to a leg injury.

Kostyuk, who will be trying to ​win her ⁠second WTA title and first since a 2023 championship in Austin, Texas, fended off all four break points in the match against the 38-year old ⁠German. ​Maria could not contain Kostyuk’s power, dropping 32 ​of 43 (74.4%) service points.

Podrez, 19, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Sloane Stephens, No. ​7 seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy and Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.