WTA FINALS

November 1, 2024

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We haven't seen you in a while. How long did you need to be completely away from the court? How is your back feeling? When did you get back to training?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I started practicing, like, two and a half weeks ago. My back is good now, so I'm happy that we started the preparation. Happy to be here.

I think I didn't play since US Open, like month and a half. I needed time to recover. But now I'm feeling much better. Yeah, just looking forward.

Q. How difficult has it been this stop-and-start year for you? You started so well, but faced so many issues. Mentally how have you handled that? When you got the extended break, was it perhaps welcomed because it helped you to refresh?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, this year I had a lot of ups and downs starting with sleep problem, like insomnia, whatever it was. Then allergies, then back. When you have such a rhythm, it's not easy to stop. But after I got used to some rest, I would say. It was really nice (smiling).

Again, it's not easy to start after this break. But I'm happy with the work we did in the last two weeks. Of course, I'm not maybe at my 100%. Yeah, I'm just looking forward and happy to be healthy now and start playing.

Q. Do you personally have any reservations or concerns about playing here in Saudi Arabia, given the human rights record particularly around women and the LGBTQ+ community?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I don't know exactly what is going to be better to say. But I'm just happy that we're able to play here. I think it's such a nice place. If we can show women's tennis here, a lot of people will come and support women's tennis. Just generally I think it's a great thing.

Q. That period you had out completely before you started hitting again two and a half weeks ago, were you physically unable to hit or was it a choice to have an extended period away?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, in the beginning I wasn't really able. Then we decided to make it a little bit longer with all the things which happened, as I said, insomnia. We said, okay, maybe the best would be to take a little bit longer off. I think it really helped.

Yeah, I'm happy that now I'm feeling much better.

Q. Specifically on the insomnia, what have you done to try to help that? Is it better now?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it is better. Yeah, it's actually not easy. It's been happening with me for long period. It needed some time. But now everything is good. Yeah, I think it was just a lot of traveling. Yeah, I just needed more time. I'm happy we made this decision and I took a bit longer break.

Q. Since you have not been on the tour, there have been many things written about your coaching split, probably many things which are not very well-informed. Is there anything you wanted to say to make it clearer about that now?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I know that a lot of I guess rumors going on. But honestly we just part ways with Stefano. I think we had incredible results over five years. We achieved a lot. I started with him when I was 200. I think it's just now next chapter of my career. I want to make next step.

But yeah, I did stop with Stefano, like as any other coaches and players do, so...

Q. Does it feel strange? Five years that you were there. A big change. Does it feel strange now?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, of course it's a big change, but I think that it's going to be good change. Of course, it's not easy when you working with someone for long time.

But we are good with Stefano. I just wish him also all the best in his new chapter.

Q. Who's with you here? At the US Open you just had some help from the Kazakhstani Billie Jean King Cup captain. Who have you been training with?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I've been practicing a lot physically in the beginning of course because it takes time to feel better. Actually I had great couple of practices with Simona. I'm here with a physio, fitness coach, agent, sister. Pretty good with my team.

I just want to enjoy this tournament and see how I feel on the court.

Q. Talking about your coach, could you talk us through the changes that have happened in your day-to-day work with your new technical guide, what you're working on that maybe you weren't doing before, and how it's helping overcome the fitness issues that you've had during the year.

ELENA RYBAKINA: As I said, now I focus more on the physical part. Of course, I'm hoping with the matches, with the practices here to feel much better during the matches.

Pre-season I'm going to start with a new coach, which I'm also very excited. For now the focus was mainly to get back in shape. For now I think we did really great job because it was not much time. We will see how the matches will go.

I think we know each other well as players. We played many times. I will try to bring all my experience and just have fun, yeah, fight and see how it's going to go.

Q. Given how long you've been out for, do you come in with fairly low expectations to this event? What are you thinking? Where is your level at having not played for so long?

ELENA RYBAKINA: As I just said, the level definitely not at my best. I actually came without much expectation. I want to have fun. I want to see where I am, where is my level now playing against the best players.

Yeah, no expectation. Just fight, have fun. Most important for me to stay healthy, yeah, be ready for pre-season and starting fresh for next year.

Q. Can we have the name of the coach?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes. It's going to be Goran Ivanisevic. Now I'm going to stay here for the next seven minutes, right (laughter)?

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about why that was a good choice for you, what you hope to achieve.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Really looking forward to this partnership. I think he's great champion and he has so much experience. I'm really looking forward to start. Yeah, for me was important to get better.

Of course, with the help of the agents we connected and just decided to start working. So I'm really looking forward.

Q. On the connections, was it more him wanting to work with you or you wanting to work with him? What is the connection?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I definitely wanted to work with him. I'm sure since he said yes he also, so...

It's just very interesting for me. I want to learn. Yeah, I'm just looking forward. As we just said, it's something new for me. Also I've been with one coach for long time. I want to learn.

Yeah, really happy and we will see what we can do together.