Elena Rybakina trades the passenger seat for the steering wheel in Stuttgart
The tradition at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is as prestigious as it is unique. The champion doesn’t just walk away with a trophy and a paycheck, but with the keys to a custom sports car driven onto the clay of the Porsche Arena.
For Elena Rybakina, that moment has always carried a bit of irony.
When Rybakina first conquered Stuttgart in 2024, she stood on the podium, showered in confetti, and looked at the gleaming prize with the same quiet intensity she brings to a break point.
There was only one problem. At the time, the Kazakh star didn’t have her driver’s license. She famously had to enjoy the victory lap from the passenger seat, a passenger in her own triumph.
On Sunday, as she defeated Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to claim her second title in the Swabian capital, the narrative finally shifted. Rybakina defended her crown and earned her right to the driver’s seat.
The journey from the passenger seat to the steering wheel has been two years in the making. It was a goal Rybakina set for herself the moment she left the tournament two years ago.
“At that time when I won first time, I said to myself, Okay, next time I want to come back and ready to drive,” Rybakina told the press, a rare, genuine smile breaking through her focused exterior. “So it happened, and yeah, I’m very glad and super happy.”
That quiet determination is the hallmark of the World No. 2.
Whether it is mastering a driver’s license or dismantling the game of a tricky opponent like Muchova, Rybakina approaches every challenge with a systematic, point-at-a-time philosophy.
The final against Muchova was, in many ways, a reflection of a driver finding their rhythm. The first set was a high-speed chase, full of momentum swings and sudden braking. Rybakina raced to an early lead, only to find Muchova surging back to level the score at 5-5.
“First set was important, of course, because I was up quite a lot and then couldn’t win straightaway with my service games,” Rybakina admitted. “I was just thinking that I need to push for the serve, try to get this game, and then the next one just play point at a time and try to be solid.”
She didn’t panic. Much like a seasoned driver navigating a sharp turn, she adjusted. Her return game, often overshadowed by her thunderous serve, became her greatest weapon. By the second set, she was in total control, reading Muchova’s serve with clinical precision and cruising to a 6-1 finish.
Despite her aggressive, fast style of play on the court, characterized by flat, piercing groundstrokes and an unreturnable serve, Rybakina reveals that her personality behind the wheel is far more conservative.
When asked to describe her driving style, she leaned into her naturally grounded temperament.
“Well, for me, it’s tough to say. I think people next to me should judge, but I think I drive pretty safe,” she noted. “There is moments when I’m relaxed and I’m not rushing anywhere. There is moments where you want to go quicker, so I think the most important that it’s safe.”
It is a fitting description for a player whose game is built on a foundation of technical soundness and emotional stability. She may hit the ball harder than almost anyone on tour, but she never looks like she is out of control.
While the second Porsche is a personal milestone, Rybakina remains characteristically humble about the perks of her success. With a schedule that keeps her on the road for ten months of the year, she acknowledges that the cars often sit idle, waiting for her return.
“It’s pity that we are so much on tour that you cannot really stay home longer and enjoy cars, but when the season will end, definitely that’s something I’m gonna do,” she said.
Until then, the new addition to the garage will be a family affair.
“No, I will definitely keep it, enjoy the car,” she said when asked if she might sell the prize. “Well, I’m not the one who is driving. I have a huge team, family. I think we’re all gonna enjoy.”
