- OpponentLiudmila Samsonova
- CountryRussia
- Head to headRybakina ahead
- Other spellingsLiudmila Samsonova
What decides this match-up
Samsonova plays similarly aggressive tennis but with a higher risk profile: more winners and considerably more unforced errors. Against Rybakina that works in patches - she can take a set on a run, but sustains the level across three far less often. The 2025 Strasbourg final (6–1, 6–7(2), 6–1) is a precise illustration of that pattern.
Key meetings
| When | Tournament | Stage | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | National Bank Open, Toronto | Fourth round | Rybakina won | - |
| May 2025 | Strasbourg Open | Final | Rybakina won | 6:1, 6:7(2), 6:1 |
Only meetings confirmed by official WTA highlights are listed.
Two big serves and short rallies
Liudmila Samsonova plays tennis very close to Rybakina's own: a powerful serve, a flat forehand, a commitment to finishing points early. The difference is in risk. Samsonova goes for sharper angles and hits more outright winners, but pays for it with a markedly higher unforced- error count.
Hence the shape of their matches: long runs of holds, few breaks, and everything settled on a handful of points at the end of sets. The average rally in these meetings rarely goes beyond four shots.
The 2025 Strasbourg final
The most memorable match of the series is the final of the clay-court event in Strasbourg in May 2025: 6–1, 6–7(2), 6–1 to Rybakina. The set scores capture the pattern precisely.
The Kazakh took the first set almost unopposed. In the second Samsonova found a run, forced a tie-break and won it comfortably. In the third the Russian's level dropped again - and the match ended as it had begun.
The trophy was Rybakina's second clay-court title and confirmed that her template works even on a surface considered unfavourable to her.
Toronto 2026: the fourth round
In the fourth round of the 2026 National Bank Open, Rybakina beat Samsonova again on her way to the tournament final, where she lost to Iga Świątek. Official highlights are on the WTA channel and appear in the video section below.
The Toronto win was part of a run in which she beat three notable opponents in succession and closed to within touching distance of the No. 1 ranking.
Risk as a style
Samsonova plays with noticeably more risk than most of the top group, and when the arm is working she is difficult for anyone. The flip side is amplitude: the gap between her best and worst match is wider than for players of comparable ranking, which is why her season results look uneven - big wins over the top ten alongside early exits.
With similar styles, the player with the smaller amplitude wins. Rybakina plays a slightly more conservative version of the same tennis: fewer winners, but considerably less loose play. Over three sets that decides it.
What decides these matches
With similar styles it comes down to consistency. The key figures are the ratio of winners to unforced errors and the percentage of second-serve points won. Rybakina generally wins not by hitting more winners but by producing fewer loose balls.
The second factor is holding a level across three sets. In patches Samsonova plays no worse, but she sustains it less often - which is exactly what the Strasbourg final scoreline recorded.
Where to watch
Highlights of their Toronto meeting are published on the official WTA channel and collected in the video section below.
Match highlights
Where to watch their meetings
Matches between Rybakina and Liudmila Samsonova are shown by the same broadcasters as the rest of her schedule - the full list of legal options is on the where to watch page. Dates and start times for upcoming matches are in the schedule.