Andy Roddick Sends Strong Message To Elena Rybakina After Close Loss To Aryna Sabalenka In Indian Wells: "You Are As Good As Her"

Elena Rybakina’s final loss to Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells final, where she came within a point of winning, has become one of the biggest talking points in tennis right now. The Kazakh star pushed Sabalenka all the way but could not close it out, with the Belarusian saving a match point to turn the match around. Across tennis news and fan reactions, the focus has shifted from the result to what Rybakina showed on court. She matched Sabalenka shot for shot, and for many, that matters more than the final score. Andy Roddick is one of those who believes this performance says a lot about where she stands.

Andy Roddick shares what Elena Rybakina must do after the loss

Speaking on his podcast, Andy Roddick made it clear that this loss should not shake Rybakina’s confidence. If anything, it should reinforce it. He explained it from her perspective, saying, “If you are Rybakina and you win that match you are going I closed out the year better than anyone last year, I win Australia, I lose to Sabalenka but when she has beaten me in recent history, it’s when I have won four more points at Indian Wells,” said Roddick.
The message from him is simple. Rybakina is not chasing Sabalenka, she is already right alongside her. “If you are in her camp you are going you are absolutely as good as her right now. We can debate that and get into the statistics of it but if I’m her coach I’m going to say you are there. You might even be better right now. I am pitching that narrative (sic)."
What stands out most to Roddick is her mindset. He believes she walks into big matches without fear, something that cannot be taught easily. “She is definitely not scared of the tough matches. She doesn’t stress test going in. She respects the best players in the world but there is no chance she does not view herself as that person right now, even with this loss to Sabalenka.”
Fans seem to agree. The reaction online has been more about how close she is rather than what she missed. Now, the focus shifts quickly to the Miami Open. Rybakina comes in as the third seed and will start in the second round against either Janice Tjen or Julia Putintseva. Last year was forgettable for her in Miami, but sometimes, one point changes everything. But in this case, it might also be the moment that pushes Rybakina even further.

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