OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 9, 2023

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/J. Brady

6-7, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Elena, congratulations. Obviously a tough situation with having to stop last night and finish today, but you succeeded. So can you just tell us your thoughts on the match and your opponent.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Really happy that I managed to win this match. It was a really tough one with the rain delay of yesterday.

Yeah, today also it was a really long rally sometimes, and this is something I need to get used to with all the conditions.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was the most difficult thing in this situation to address yourself to be ready today?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think it was unlucky that we stopped in this moment. It was 4-2 on the tiebreak and tough score to come back. We stayed I think for the one hour extra after to have finally decision to wait more or not, so it was tough.

Yeah, just to recover and start again this match, it wasn't easy, but I'm happy that in the end it was tough battle, but I managed to win.

Q. It's only I think Jen Brady's second WTA tournament back from her long injury. What did you make of her game? What made it difficult for you to adjust to?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think just overall it was the first match. It's never easy.

Plus, the conditions just to have these balls. The court is a bit slower I feel like. And just overall, I think Jenny, she was playing really well. She was top 10, so she's a great player.

It's not easy. She has really good speed on the ball and good serve. So I knew that it's going to be a tough one, but yeah, as I said, I'm just happy that I managed to win.

Q. From 3-3 in the third set it felt as though -- I'm not sure you made an unforced error from that point. It seemed like you kind of were able to lock down while still hitting the ball very, very big and obviously serving. Did you make any adjustments, or did your mindset change? What do you think flipped things there?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I was just trying to fight every point because it was not easy. Also, a bit of wind here and there.

Yeah, it was just I think a lot about physics. And, also, I don't know. I was just trying to get the feeling and fighting.

Q. You will play Sloane Stephens in the next round. What will be the keys for your road to success?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think it's going to be a tough one for sure again. We never played against each other. I think we only practiced once on clay.

So, yeah, it's going to be interesting for me. Yeah, just try to serve well. Maybe it's not so many free points I get out of my serve, but at least I can manage to serve with a good placement and then sometimes just go for the shots because it's not easy here.

Q. Elena, just a question about contrasting the challenge of the difficulties of winning a slam versus maintaining consistency throughout a season. I'm curious, which one do you think is harder, to be consistent over 40 weeks out of the year, like high-level keep making quarters, semifinals nearly every week, or winning a major?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Good question. I don't know. I think to be consistent, it's very tough. So I would say that probably. Just to be consistent with all the changes of the surface, balls, traveling a lot, I would say this is the toughest.

Q. What makes this tournament special for you?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Actually today was such a tough battle, and I was focusing on myself a lot, but I have to say that the crowd was really nice and the atmosphere on the court.

Yeah, hopefully next match is going to be the same, but I really enjoyed the support today.