Elena Rybakina, the Kazakhstani tennis star known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, has been on a determined quest to regain her top form on the WTA Tour. Integral to this journey is her coach, Davide Sanguinetti, whose experience and insight are proving invaluable as Rybakina eyes a return to the elite ranks of women’s tennis.

Rybakina, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3 in 2022, has shown glimpses of brilliance throughout her career, including capturing the Wimbledon title in 2022, which cemented her status as a Grand Slam champion. Her victory at Wimbledon was not just a personal milestone but also historic for Kazakhstan, marking the first time a Kazakh player won a major singles Grand Slam title. While her powerful serve and precise groundstrokes have earned her multiple WTA titles, sustaining consistency has been a challenge. This is where Sanguinetti’s coaching expertise comes into play.

Davide Sanguinetti, a former Italian ATP player, retired from the tour in 2008 and quickly transitioned into coaching, applying his knowledge to players on the men’s circuit. His playing career peaked with a world No. 42 ranking and two ATP singles titles, alongside memorable performances at Grand Slams where he notably pushed some top players to tight matches. Since moving to coaching, Sanguinetti has worked with a variety of players including Vince Spadea, Go Soeda, Ryan Harrison, and more recently Brandon Nakashima. His experience on the men’s tour equips him with a deep understanding of the physical and tactical demands of professional tennis.

Transitioning to coaching a female athlete like Rybakina required Sanguinetti to adapt his methods and communication style. “We definitely need to be more sensitive to girls, who have different ways of interacting,” Sanguinetti has admitted. This openness to learning and adjusting has been key in fostering a strong coach-player bond. While men’s and women’s tennis share many technical similarities, psychological and emotional approaches often differ, meaning a coach must be attuned to their player’s unique needs to maximize potential.

Their collaboration has already borne fruit as Rybakina approaches pivotal moments on the WTA calendar. One such example is the Canadian Open, also known as the National Bank Open, which has become a crucial battleground for her to regain momentum. The tournament, held alternately in Toronto and Montreal, is one of the prestigious WTA 1000 events and historically serves as a major tune-up for players gearing up for the US Open, the season’s final Grand Slam. Past winners include legends like Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Bianca Andreescu, the latter also a Canadian favorite who made history winning this event in 2019 as a teenager.

Ahead of a semifinal clash against Victoria Mboko, a promising Canadian teenager known for her resilience and rising star status, Rybakina is armed not just with her weapons on court but also the strategic insight Sanguinetti provides. Rybakina has already beaten Mboko recently at the Washington Open, showcasing her tactical superiority and confidence. Yet, tennis is a game of margins, where mental toughness can dictate outcomes as much as physical skill. The coach’s role in preparing Rybakina for such high-stakes matches is critical.

“It’s great to have a coach like Davide who understands me and my game,” Rybakina has said in a candid interview. “He’s always pushing me to be my best and helping me stay focused.” Such player-coach rapport is often what separates good performances from great ones in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of top-level tennis.

Coaching in tennis is not just about technical corrections or tactical gameplans—it’s about managing nerves, expectations, and the relentless travel schedule. Sanguinetti describes it as being “like playing tennis itself – you have to be prepared for anything.” Seeing his player blossom and regain confidence is a source of excitement for him, making his coaching career all the more rewarding.

Historically, coaching relationships have launched players to new heights. The likes of Toni Nadal with Rafael Nadal and Marian Vajda with Novak Djokovic illustrate how vital the right coach can be. On the women’s side, partnerships like that of Patrick Mouratoglou with Serena Williams reinforced how strategic coaching can amplify a player’s natural gifts.

Rybakina, still just in her mid-20s, stands at an exciting crossroads. With Sanguinetti’s guidance, her blend of formidable serve and groundstroke power could translate into consistent deep runs at majors and Premier events. Her style resembles that of earlier powerful players like Maria Sharapova, who utilized big serves and aggressive baseline play to dominate opponents. However, Rybakina’s challenge remains blending power with patience and mental resilience against some of today’s most agile and strategic opponents.

As the Canadian Open unfolds, all eyes will be on Rybakina to see if she can serve up yet another ace performance and steamroll through her competition, including the young Canadian Mboko. If she prevails and reaches the final, she won’t just move closer to the top 10 – she will send a clear message to the rest of the tour that she is a force to be reckoned with once more.

As she has remarked herself, “I’m just trying to stay focused and play my best tennis. The rest will take care of itself.” The beauty of tennis lies in such perseverance—the ability to rise, refocus, and strike back with renewed energy.

The partnership between Elena Rybakina and Davide Sanguinetti embodies this spirit. It’s a blend of experience, raw talent, and the tactical nuances that make professional tennis endlessly fascinating. If everything clicks, the coming months could see Rybakina serving and volleying her way back to the sport’s upper echelon — a thrilling prospect for tennis fans worldwide.