AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2025

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/E. Jones

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Solid performance today. Your thoughts on your first match.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Thank you. Very happy with the performance, with the way I served also today.

Looking forward for the next match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Being the sort of favorite on a court where everyone wants the other person to do well, how do you deal with that? Because she's Australian and it was obviously an atmosphere where any mistake you made, people were clapping in some ways, it's strange.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, of course I knew that people want to support Australian. She's very young. I knew that I'm going to have a lot of opportunities. So I was kind of prepared for anything.

Q. I know you have been working with Goran for a short time. Is there anything new he's brought to your game or anything you have been working on specifically?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I think it's too early to say. I mean, we worked a little bit on everything, and still get to know each other. So I would say a bit on everything.

Q. How much input did you have from Stefano? I know he's not allowed to be here, but did you speak to him before the match and maybe get advice from both of them?

ELENA RYBAKINA: During, I speak with him, of course, and same with Goran. So I got a bit of advices, and also I met the other girl who played with her just recently, the previous tournament, so a bit few words from them.

So, of course, I didn't know how she plays. I needed some time to get used to her balls, but overall I was prepared.

Q. Stefano wasn't here. You didn't get him a ticket or anything?

ELENA RYBAKINA: He was not in the match today.

Q. Can you talk a bit about your next opponent? I think it's another wildcard, someone you haven't met before?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I don't know her at all, so I will need to watch a bit of her matches. So I can't say much right now.