THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2022

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/S. Halep

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Elena, how are you feeling? Wimbledon finalist.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it's amazing. It's unbelievable. I feel great right now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's traditional for the Duchess of Cambridge to give the award to the women's winner. How excited would you be to pick up the award from Kate Middleton? Can you talk about what you think of the Royal family?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Actually, I didn't even think about this yet. But for sure it's an honor and I'm going to be very excited for this moment no matter if I win or lose. I think it's just something to remember, and it's going to be amazing.

Q. Do you feel like you're representing Russia at all at this tournament, where Russians have been banned from competing? You're born there, lived there for much of your life.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Actually, I answer these questions yesterday. As I said yesterday, I can repeat it now: I'm playing already for Kazakhstan for a long time. I'm really happy representing Kazakhstan. They believed in me. There is no more question about how I feel. It's just already long time my journey as a Kazak player. I played Olympics, Fed Cup.

I think I gave an answer also yesterday about this.

Q. In your heart do you feel Russian still?

ELENA RYBAKINA: What does it mean for you to feel? I mean, I'm playing tennis, so for me, I'm enjoying my time here.

I feel for the players who couldn't come here, but I'm just enjoying playing here on the biggest stage, enjoying my time and trying to do my best, so...

Q. Can you talk us through that match. Nerves didn't seem to come into the equation. You said on court you were nervous, but the way you approached the match, you looked like the more experienced player out there.

ELENA RYBAKINA: I was quite nervous before in the moment when I was close already finish the match. But I would say that today I really felt solid in my game and I think I did everything good.

On the previous matches, I had many ups and downs moments. But today, even if I lost some points, I was really focused. In the end I'm really happy with my result. I think it's good improvement for me.

Q. I know you're sort of well-known for being very visibly sort of unexcited when you win matches, very calm. Is that going to be the same thing if you win Wimbledon on Saturday, or you might smile?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I mean, I'm smiling. I really don't know how I'm going to react because I believe in myself. We worked a lot with my team to get through. Of course, no one expected that it's going to be this week at Wimbledon. But this is something we worked a lot. Everybody believed in me in my team.

I don't know how I'm going to react. We see tomorrow, after tomorrow, yeah.

Q. Can you tell us, what went into your decision to move to Kazakhstan, to play for Kazakhstan? Your family still lives in Moscow. Lastly, have you heard from any of the Russian players?

ELENA RYBAKINA: If I heard what?

Q. From any of the other Russian players who are not here during this fortnight.

ELENA RYBAKINA: I'm actually not checking my phone so often.

But as I answered before, I was born in Russia, yes, but I'm representing Kazakhstan. This is something, like, I don't know why we have to come back to this. I already replied.

I think that even today for my match, for example, our president of the federation came to support me. It's really a big thing. It's unbelievable support which I just appreciate.

Keep playing. It was a history what I did already, so for me it's something which I will never forget.

Q. You're not as well-known as some people who have reached a Grand Slam final. Can you tell us a little bit about your life away from tennis or your journey to this point.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Honestly, when I finished school, I moved into tennis a lot because it was very difficult to mix tennis and school. Last few years it's been difficult for everybody. So I cannot say, except of tennis, I was doing much. I was missing my friends, family, because you travel a lot, all the restrictions.

I just, of course, like to spend time with the friends, with the family. But it's nothing special what I'm doing, except playing now, working, improving. So, yeah.

I cannot give you maybe what you wanted to hear, but that's like this.

Q. It sounds like even you're a little surprised to be at this stage of Wimbledon right now. What do you think has changed for you or clicked for you to have gotten you into the final?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes, I didn't expect that I'm going to be here in the second week, especially in the final. I believe that I have a game to go far in the Grand Slams. Of course, I believe that maybe one day I can win it.

It was tough because I had injuries, I didn't have good preparation, and it was not the moment when I'm just going up with my results. So of course I came a bit more relaxed since I knew that I didn't have good preparation.

Maybe this is something also help me to get through all these matches. I can say that this is really first time when I enjoyed every day of playing and just being on the tournaments.

Q. I remember watching you beginning of 2020, you were playing so well, made four finals, then coronavirus happened. I'm wondering how much you felt like the momentum you had back then was interrupted by the pandemic and how much it was a struggle to get back to the level you were finding beginning of 2020.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it was very tough because I was going just up. I thought that I can play every tournament no matter how I feel. It was just going always my way. I felt really good. Everything was new for me.

After corona, after this long period, it was very difficult to come back. During pandemic, I didn't practice at all. It wasn't easy.

Then some health problems like injuries, sick, allergies. It kept on happening. I was, like, very upset, of course.

My coach was always telling me that, You don't have to wait when you're going to be in the perfect shape. You going to win no matter how you feel. You just need to keep working and keep improving.

This time I came and I cannot say I'm in the perfect shape, physical condition. I don't think I am. It's still something I'm thinking which I need to do more after this tournament to have good preparation for next American swing.

But I'm really happy. Now I understand that you don't have to be perfect every day to win matches and go far in tournaments.

Q. Your thoughts on your final opponent, Jabeur. You've played her twice, and you won one, lost one, both three-setters.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it was always tricky matches against her. Different surface. Ons is playing really good. She played good last year. This year she had great results. For sure is going to be very tough match.

But I'm going to try to do my best, focus on my game, and we see what's going to happen.

Q. One thing I want to clarify. But there are some reports saying you still live in Moscow. Do you consider yourself someone who still lives in Moscow or are you based in Kazakhstan?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think I'm based on tour because I'm traveling every week. I think most of the time I spend on tour. I practice in Slovakia between the tournaments. I had camps in Dubai. So I don't live anywhere, to be honest.

Q. So you don't spend that much time in Russia?

ELENA RYBAKINA: No.

Q. What are your earliest memories of the Wimbledon championship and when did you first start thinking that you could be the winner?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't know. I didn't have many seasons before on here at Wimbledon. Only now probably I understand that I'm very close to be champion. If it's happens, it's great; if it's not, it's still great result for me.

As a kid I don't remember exactly who was playing, but when Wimbledon was on TV, it was always traditional white. I remember this well. Strawberries, champagne. It's something like very nice to see.

When I was a kid, I never thought I'm going to be there. My decision to keep playing professional was only at age of 17, 18.

Q. And what are your thoughts about facing Ons and the history you're making together as people from your respective countries?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think it's amazing. Actually I remember I met Ons first time I think when we were playing WTA maybe 125K. I came for the first time with my dad and I met her. She was very nice to help me to find the club because she had a car. I remember how I met Ons.

What she achieved already, it's happening, like, in front of my eyes. We are going, like, together in this journey. I think it's just amazing to think that you are making history.

Q. Your game and power have the crowd gasping today. Talk about how you'll feel going into the final. Do you think you'll be even more nervous? Do you think your game can perhaps overpower Ons in the final?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Of course I'm going to be nervous. Everybody probably nervous when they are going to play on Centre Court and if it's a final.

But it's a challenge for me to be stable, to be strong mentally, and try to do my best.

I know how Ons plays. She knows how I play. We know each other well. We see how it's going to go. But, as I said, I'm going to try to do my best.

Q. I remember hearing you say you were considering playing college tennis in the U.S. Were there specific universities you were talking to at that point?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't remember because it was actually many good offers. I was playing juniors still then, and I finished third I think. Many college, they were interested.

In my mind I knew that I don't want to go to America and study. I don't know why. I actually maybe played two Grand Slams in New York, so I don't know why it was in my mind that this is not something for me.

So I was telling my parents. My dad, he was looking at the offers, and he was saying, Oh, this is good, maybe this one.

I'm like, No (smiling).

Q. Am I right in thinking that you used to be a gymnast as a child or a figure skater or both?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, I was doing both. But when I was young, young, like three, four years old, because I was going with my sister. I think after they just thought, told me that I'm already too tall for this sport.

I don't remember what happened, but my sister, she stopped going there. So me also. Then I tried tennis. She said she doesn't like it straightaway, but I stayed. I like it.

Q. There were a lot of people in your player box today. Could you share who is here supporting you this week.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, so it's my sister here. Actually I think it's second or third time she comes on the tournament with me. So she's my talisman, I don't know how to say. With her, it's biggest result.

Our friends, like family of four people.

My coach.

Yaroslava Shvedova, she's captain and she's still playing here.

President came today, so he watched my game.

Sponsors.

So it's a big support for me these two weeks.

Q. If you had gone to university, what would you have studied?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Have no idea because I remember that it was for me so difficult to combine tennis and school. I was going to the tournaments, then coming back and having some exams. So for me the days were going so quick.

I just remember at 17, 18, I have to do the exam, and I'm playing semifinal of French Open junior, I think. It was a nightmare, to be honest. The fights with the parents because they want me to study, but the same time they see the results as a junior, I'm doing good. It was really tough.

But I knew that I'm not going to study. I don't know what I will do there.

Q. Incredible stories of players coming out of Moscow, practicing in the cold winter. What was your experience as a young girl, specifically at the Sparta Club, what was that like?

ELENA RYBAKINA: For me it was just something for fun after school. We had very good group of players. It was always interesting practices, always fun. A lot of competition.

I remember these times very well. I'm still very good friends with the players who were in the same group. My best friend, she was with me same time.

I mean, it's just amazing time. I think I won't change something if I had the chance.

Q. Have you had any messages from important people in Kazakhstan? Do you know what a big deal it will be like? Will millions be watching?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, I think it's very important because tennis becoming even more popular in Kazakhstan. We have so many tournaments there. I think it's amazing that now on TV, on the news you can see that I'm playing the final, and it's for the first time.

My biggest support is president of the federation and also other people called through him, congratulate me with this result. I think everybody will watch and support me on the final.

Q. I've read that your parents had to support you quite a lot through your tennis. Russian Federation didn't help that much. Also, have your parents given you any messages? Do you feel you're paying them back for the money they invested in you when you were little?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I was lucky because I had some people in the beginning who helped financially. Then, of course, it was big work for my parents. So big thank you to them because I think they did everything right. They never pushed. They never thought that I'm going to be professional.

So it was always just for fun because they see that I enjoy playing tennis, enjoy spending time on the court.

Now, for example, we didn't even talk a lot because, I don't know, maybe they don't want to also kind of break the routine. So it's just quick messages after the matches. Yesterday we talked maybe a bit more. But, of course, they're super nervous watching on TV how I play.

So, yeah.

Q. You were practicing with Bublik. What is he like as a practice partner? Do you ever hope to represent Kazakhstan together with him in mixed doubles?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes, in Eastbourne we practiced together. It was fun. He won the match because I was, like, Oh, I have to warm him up. I don't know how it's going to be. It was fun.

He's very nice guy. We played once mixed doubles in Australia. We tried. Then it's very difficult to play singles. Maybe you play doubles, mixed, it's a little bit too much.

I think it's great to maybe one day try again. Yeah, it's fun because we had also camps together. It's always good to hit with a guy for womans.