Elena Rybakina explains why she will never go the Iga Swiatek route with adding a psychologist to team
perigon
Last updated: April 22, 2026
Elena Rybakina has publicly stated her preference against working with a sports psychologist, a stance that contrasts sharply with other top players like Iga Swiatek. This highlights different approaches to mental preparation in professional tennis.
- Rybakina expressed that she doesn't actively seek or prefer having a sports psychologist as part of her team. She indicated that while she understands their role and the benefits they can offer, it's not something she personally finds necessary or desirable for her game. Her approach emphasizes self-reliance in managing the mental aspects of competition.
- In contrast, Iga Swiatek, the world number one, actively incorporates a sports psychologist into her team. This suggests a divergent philosophy on mental conditioning, with some players valuing professional psychological support and others preferring a more independent route. This difference in approach reflects the diverse strategies employed by athletes at the elite level to achieve peak performance.
- The article implicitly suggests that both approaches can be successful, as both Rybakina and Swiatek are highly accomplished players in the professional tennis circuit. The decision to include or exclude a sports psychologist appears to be a deeply personal choice for each athlete, influenced by their individual needs, beliefs, and career stages.
