The streak has ended, but the supremacy endures. After starting her career by winning 12 titles in 12 different cities, Elena Rybakina has at last found a venue she can conquer more than once. On Sunday, the reigning Australian Open champion defeated Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to claim her second Stuttgart Open crown and the 13th singles title of her career.
In a match that lasted 1 hour and 18 minutes, the World No. 2 survived a spirited first-set fightback before shifting into a gear that Muchova simply couldn't match. Along with the trophy, Rybakina drives off with her second Porsche sports car—a prize she can actually get behind the wheel of this time, unlike her 2024 victory when she famously lacked a driving license.
In the second, I was just trying to be more solid. I think the return improved. I was managing to see where she was gonna serve.
Elena Rybakina
The first set unfolded as a tactical battle. Rybakina raced ahead to a 5-2 advantage, but Muchova, the 2023 Roland Garros finalist, demonstrated why she is in the midst of a breakout season. She fought back to even the score at 5-5, compelling Rybakina to summon her best tennis.
However, the Kazakh player dialed in her shots, breaking Muchova to claim the set 7-5. That breakthrough proved decisive; Rybakina swept seven straight games from the close of the first set into the middle of the second, surging to a 5-0 lead that effectively ended any real competitiveness in the match.
I want to say a big thanks to my team, without you guys it wouldn't be possible. Thank you for always pushing me to do better and improve every day. It really feels like home, and you just want to come back every year.
Elena Rybakina
I beat players I have never beaten before [Gauff and Svitolina]. Of course, it could have been a little better... but I have to give credit to Elena. I think she played really well, really fast. I was probably a little bit tired from the last two matches, but all credit to her.
Karolina Muchova
Rybakina’s triumph in Germany does more than add a car to her garage; it re-establishes her as the woman to beat heading into the crucial Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros stretch. By reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the Race to Riyadh, she edges ahead of Aryna Sabalenka and sets a daunting standard for the clay-court season.
Trophy count: Rybakina now owns five clay-court titles, adding to her versatile resume of Wimbledon and Australian Open glory.
Quarter-Final scare: Her week wasn't all smooth sailing; she had to save two match points in a three-hour thriller against Leylah Fernandez just to stay in the tournament.
Muchova’s ascent: Despite the loss, Muchova will rise to World No. 11 on Monday, continuing her rapid return toward the Top 10 after winning the Qatar Open in February.
"Twin" performance: Rybakina’s final victory was a near-mirror image of her semi-final win over Mirra Andreeva, winning 8 of the last 9 games in both matches.
Elena Rybakina arrived in Stuttgart aiming to launch her clay-court campaign in impressive fashion, and she did so while dropping only one set. Her sharp anticipation of Muchova’s serve and her punishing forehand winners from the baseline indicate that the World No. 2 has struck an ideal blend of power and composure on the red clay.
