Elena Rybakina battles to 100th WTA 1000 win of career with opening victory in Madrid

Elena Rybakina made a winning start to her Mutua Madrid Open campaign on Friday afternoon, fighting back from a set down to defeat an inspired Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

And that fightback brought her a very significant victory, as it was her milestone 100th career win at a WTA 1000 event.

WTA 1000 events are one of the highest levels of tournament on the women’s tour, only out-ranked (ranking points-wise) by the four Grand Slams and the season-ending WTA Finals.

Rybakina’s best results at WTA 1000 events are two titles at Indian Wells and Rome in 2023, plus four more finals at Miami in 2023, Doha and Miami in 2024 and Indian Wells this year.

Her best result in Madrid is one semifinal in 2024.

She's been to the semifinals or better at nine of the 10 WTA 1000 events currently on the calendar, missing only Wuhan.

The Kazakh is now 100-40 in her career at this level.

RYBAKINA’S WIN-LOSS RECORD BY WTA 1000 EVENT:

• 10-4 in Doha
• 9-3 in Dubai
• 16-4 at Indian Wells
• 16-6 in Miami
• 9-5 in Madrid (incl. today's win)
• 11-3 in Rome
• 8-4 in Canada
• 10-6 in Cincinnati
• 5-2 in Beijing
• 5-2 in Wuhan
• 1-1 in Guadalajara (formerly a WTA 1000)
• 100-40 in total

(Note: Rybakina played Guadalajara one time when it was a WTA 1000 event, in 2022, reaching the second round.)