AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2023

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/V. Azarenka

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: This will be the only pre-final press conference for Elena.

Congratulations, Elena.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Talk us through the emotions you're feeling right now at reaching your first Australian Open final.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Happy. At the same time tired. But I think it was really good match. Different conditions today compared to other matches I played.

Yeah, super happy to be in the final and ready to give everything I have left in one day.

THE MODERATOR: Who would like the first question, please?

Q. On today's match, I could be wrong, but that might have been your first night match.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah.

Q. Players have said, especially big-hitting players, that it definitely plays different at night. Did you have to make adjustments for that?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, for sure. Actually, I didn't expect it's going to be that big of a difference. Yeah, it was much slower. The ball was heavier. It was difficult to move it. Of course, I had to adjust.

I would say it still took me a lot of time. It was not easy because Vika, she's a great player. She was playing really good, smart.

Yeah, overall I'm happy that I managed to win first set, and then it was a bit better in the second.

Q. You've played now, including Vika, a series of Grand Slam champions during this tournament. How would you describe that challenging of facing elite players like that, players who have done it before?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think it was a great challenge for me because for sure they have experience of winning Grand Slams, so it was nothing new for them.

For me this time I would say it was a bit easier also compared to Wimbledon when I was playing for the first time quarters, semis, final.

For sure they're very experienced players. I knew that I have to focus on every point. I think in the end I did real well.

Q. Talk about your family dynamic. Who is here with you? Is this the first time you've been together for a major event? How lucky is your sister?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes, she is. I think first time she actually came on the WTA tournament, it was in Doha when actually we recorded the video where my coach saying that if I ever win Grand Slam, he's going to do the tattoo. So it was the first time on WTA.

Second time, she came at Wimbledon, I won.

Yeah, this time she's here with my parents, mom and dad. Yeah, it's first time they're all together here. I'm super happy that we can spend evenings together and they can watch me live.

Q. Does it make it more special for your parents because they couldn't come to Wimbledon?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, for sure it's great for them. I mean, I didn't even talk with them yet. I'm sure they're happy. They don't see me often playing live, so I think this time, it's big result already. No matter how I play in the final, I think they're very proud and happy.

Q. How will they be on Saturday? Do they get nervous?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, for sure they're nervous. You asking if I nervous?

Q. No, your parents.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, of course they're nervous. I think every match I play they're nervous, no matter if it's live or they're watching on TV. I think you can never get used to this. Of course you going to be nervous no matter if it's, yeah, first round or final.

Q. Have you been speaking with Bulat, getting messages? Is he going to come for the final?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, he's busy. But, yeah, he was writing me. He was supporting, congratulating. I think he watched most of my matches.

So, yeah, I heard that he wants to come, but I don't know of course with the schedule and everything if he will be able. It would be nice to see him in the box.

Q. Does he give you advice on playing?

ELENA RYBAKINA: No, sometimes when we speak on the phone, of course he will tell me what he saw in the match, what he liked, maybe where I improved. Yeah, he tells me his opinion, of course, yeah.

Q. You said this felt less difficult than at Wimbledon. Just wondering why it felt less difficult.

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think because I knew what to expect. Everything was new at Wimbledon. Now I'm more or less understand what to expect.

It's nervous no matter what because it's a final. Also semis, you always nervous before the match. But this time I think I was focusing more on the match, what I have to do, and maybe not to think what's going to come or what's going to happen around and so on.

Q. A couple years ago you said your dad wanted you to go to college instead of immediately turning pro. Have the both of you ever laughed about that, how it could have gone a different way? Now that he's seen you doing what you do best, how does that make him feel?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, we didn't talk about this, but I will ask for sure now since you mention it.

I think for every parent, it's difficult to make any decision because I'm young and of course I want to play. For them, they're worried if I will be injured or something. Of course, it's tough for them.

But I think he's happy and he's very proud. I know that from the beginning, they believed in me no matter if I will lose first round or anything as a junior because they saw also potential, how I loved the game.

Yeah, I think they're just proud now.

Q. Was Maria Sharapova ever a hero of yours? Was she someone that you looked up to?

ELENA RYBAKINA: You mean if she was my, like, idol?

Q. Yes.

ELENA RYBAKINA: I would say I didn't really have an idol when I was younger. I was just playing tennis after school. I didn't have much time to actually watch tennis.

The idol was for me, like, and still Roger Federer. From the woman's side, I would say that I like just to watch, if I had the chance, like different players. I won't say from the woman's I had like an idol.

Q. You might win two titles by the age of 23. Are you ahead of what your targets were growing up?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I wouldn't say that I was putting in my head, like, exactly age where I want to win a Grand Slam or anything. It was just small goals. I knew that I have to improve.

I wouldn't say it was age when I had to win or something. I didn't put that pressure on myself.

Q. What will you do over the next 36 hours? Have you been at a particular restaurant eating a particular meal?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Not really. I didn't go much. I will stay with my parents maybe in the hotel or in their apartment. It's quite crowded in the city. Once we went, or two times, to the restaurants, but not so often.

Now I'm just going to rest a bit. I have to do treatment, practice tomorrow. Yeah, maybe tomorrow morning I will go somewhere.

Q. What do you think has been your biggest weapon over the two weeks? Going into Saturday, what do you think is going to be your biggest weapon?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, for sure it's my serve. Overall I think on the baseline I was playing really well. I was trying to come forward. I think I just need to keep on doing the same thing, no matter the conditions.

Today I know how it feels to play in the evening outside with an open roof. I get this match and I try to take everything from this match and bring it to the final.

Q. The first set was so tense either way. You were very close to losing it. What was going through your mind as you were fighting at that point?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, I was focusing on myself because, as I said, conditions were completely different. I couldn't get free points on my serve that easy like during the day when I played the matches. I knew that I need just to adjust. I was doing correct things. It was just a matter to be more focused on these important moments.

In the end, I just was playing point by point no matter score. Yeah, just everything went well.

Q. Aryna took the first set. Could you talk about facing Aryna. With two power players, with the open roof, at night, who wins with that type of matchup?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it's going to be tough battle. I think as today maybe I will not have to serve that big, that fast, so it doesn't really matter the speed. It's important to have a good placement on the serve.

In these conditions, to serve full, full power, it's not easy. The ball is not really going.

Yeah, the same on the baseline. Just to play more deeper and do the same thing, try to come forward, just to expect maybe longer rallies than usual.