As two players firmly established among the world’s top five, it is quite surprising that Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff have squared off just once on the WTA Tour.

It was a second-round clash in Toronto back in 2022, which saw Gauff eke out a victory in the third-set tiebreak.

“I see this is like a thing, where people want us to be in the same court,” Gauff joked on Tuesday during her pre-tournament press conference with reporters in Madrid.

The American world No.3 had just finished a practice session with Rybakina, who arrives at the Caja Magica brimming with confidence from her title run in Stuttgart last week.

“We haven’t practised that much, mainly… I don’t know why we haven’t. But we did today, it was good, it was fun. She obviously is playing well. Yeah, it was a good practice,” said Gauff of her hit with the Kazakh world No.2.

Rybakina and Gauff, both two-time Grand Slam champions, had contrasting clay-court campaigns last year.

Rybakina suffered early exits in Madrid and Rome, before winning Strasbourg and losing in the Roland-Garros fourth round. Her 9-3 run on the red dirt paled in comparison to Gauff’s 18-3 clay record that included final appearances in Madrid and Rome and a title triumph on Paris’ terre battue.

They’re both back in the Spanish capital facing different challenges.

Top spot looming ahead

For Rybakina, the opportunity to gain points and close the gap on top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is one she no doubt wants to capitalise on.

There are 2,395 ranking points currently separating Sabalenka from Rybakina, but with the world No.1 defending 2,515 points over the next six weeks – including the Mutua Madrid Open crown – the race for the summit could very much heat up during this clay swing.

“I don’t think necessarily only about the ranking,” said Rybakina, who clinched her second major trophy at the Australian Open earlier this year.

“I think the main focus is, I would say, on the Grand Slams, to really win these kind of titles. But even when I was No.3 years ago, it still was a goal to climb higher in the ranking. Each year is an opportunity. This year I started well so I hope I continue this way, and if it happens, then great.”

In contrast to her limited previous experience against Gauff, Rybakina has played Sabalenka 17 times; their rivalry fast-becoming a defining one for this era of women’s tennis.

“She is a great player, a great champion. She won so many titles and also she has been very consistent,” said Rybakina of Sabalenka.

“I feel like we are both very powerful players. We have our strengths and things we need to improve, but we definitely push each other.

“Yeah, she is very fun outside of the court. She is nice, so we are not super, super close, but I think she is a good person, definitely.”

Coco finding the joy

For Gauff, this upcoming period will see her attempt to defend a whopping 3,300 points.

The 22-year-old American insists she isn’t feeling any added pressure entering the Mutua Madrid Open, given she lost in the final here 12 months ago.

“I think final is still a loss for me,” she reflected.

Gauff considers last year to have been a breakthrough for her in Madrid, a city she has come to enjoy both on and off the court.

The Florida native says she tends to find her best game when she is able to have fun away from the tennis, and keep herself away from the comfort of doomscrolling on her phone in her hotel room.

“I think just forcing myself to experience new things on tour, which is hard when you’ve been in cities multiple times,” said Gauff of how she keeps things fresh on a tennis tour that is repetitive by design.

“Because sometimes I did find myself, like, cruise control in a way. But, I don’t know, just like last couple nights ago, I went out with Eva (Lys) and just trying to find new people to go to dinner with, experience new things. Yesterday I had a day off, so I went shopping.

“And just trying new restaurants, going on TikTok, trying not to force myself to ride to a different part of the city to see something new instead of going room service or downstairs. And I’ve honestly had a lot more fun. And whenever I do that, I usually do well in a tournament. So it’s just something I have to force myself to do. Because I can easily just sit in bed and read and doomscroll for hours, too.”

Some inspo from Rafa and Carlitos

In Stuttgart last week, Gauff mentioned she tries to model her clay game after that of the legendary Rafael Nadal.

“I don’t quite play like him but I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay,” said Gauff, before quickly clarifying she didn’t consider herself in his league.

“Like a Walmart version of Rafa, a lesser version of Rafa.”

On Tuesday, she was asked if she drew inspiration from other Spanish players, and the name Carlos Alcaraz quickly came up.

“Obviously Carlos is unreal too. Honestly, in Miami I was trying to go to the net more. Inspired by him and something I would like to do on the clay,” she said of the seven-time Grand Slam winner.

“I mean, I have a love-hate with drop shots. I’m not like Carlos. So I don’t quite hit them all like that good. But when I do hit them, they actually are good. Most sometimes when I hit them on a good ball. So I definitely want to incorporate that more.

“But the main thing I try to be like Carlos is just the fun he seems to have. Obviously, I’m not inside his head, so I don’t know. But he just appears like he’s just a happy guy. So I would like to appear like that on the court more.”

Gauff and Rybakina are both in the bottom half of the draw this fortnight in Madrid and could potentially face off in the semi-finals.

Rybakina begins her campaign against Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Antonia Ruzic in round two, while Gauff opens against Oksana Selekhmeteva or a qualifier.