BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 4, 2025

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on being back at Indian Wells, especially not being able to play last year.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, really happy to be back and excited to start. Yeah, didn't have a chance to play last year, but really looking forward for this event.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How are the courts feeling this year with the new surface?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I feel that it's not much faster, but I will say maybe the bounce a little bit lower. The past few days were, like, very windy and a lot of sun came, so it's also a bit different, the bounce. But I think the court's still nice.

Q. What's it like being back here, a place that you have won before, and especially having had to miss it last year? What's it like to be back here?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it's amazing to be back. I have a great experience from the two years. And I stayed here like for three weeks, and I really enjoy time here. It's very calm, amazing views, and I think the crowd is also really nice.

So it's I think really nice tournament to be.

Q. The WTA is doing a big rebranding campaign. What are some of the things that you want to see from the new WTA league?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I'm not the branding expert, so I would leave it to them, to be honest. Yeah, we will see just how this whole thing is going to go.