Strong emotions are about to be felt in this Roland Garros 2023. Meanwhile, the players are preparing to give their best and sign great results in this second Grand Slam of the season. Among them is Elena Rybakinawho has just been crowned in the WTA 1000 from Rome. The Kazakh is very comfortable on clay and is looking to surpass her best result in the Parisian tournament, the quarterfinals achieved in 2021. Rybakina comes in a good moment of confidence thanks to that title in Rome with which she has managed to place number 4 in the world, his best ranking to date. The Kazakh was chatting with the media in the Media Day of the tournament about numbers, his performance on clay and about his rivalry with Every Swiatek y Aryna Sabalenka.
“I don’t think much about the rankings. Of course it’s good to see the progress, also with the ranking. Last year I played well too, but now I feel like I’m a bit more consistent and doing a good job with the team. I just want to keep it up and we’ll see how far I can go this year.”
On his adjustments on clay
“On clay I think I won my first WTA tournament so since then I knew I can play well on clay as well. I just need to prepare differently. Maybe I need more time and also experience during the last few years. In general I think I am improving a lot physically and I also played a lot of games this year. No matter the surface, I feel like it gives me confidence anyway. We are trying to improve all aspects of the game. I think there is still a lot to work on, but everything is going in the right direction.”
Two years ago she beat Serena Williams at Roland Garros
“They are good memories of when I played against Serena. It was also my best Grand Slam result. I got to the second week. It also gave me the confidence that I can play well on clay. So, I’m happy to be back and I hope to go far here as well.”
Do you feel superiority in the locker room along with Swiatek and Sabalenka?
“I’m not so sorry. I notice when someone is talking and asking about it. We’ve done well in the beginning so far, but I feel like there are a lot of players who have been consistent. We are still in this Grand Slam and we have two more, the year is long. We’ll see how it goes, but hopefully it can continue like this.
For now I would say that we are developing a rivalry due to the results. And I think, in a way, we pushed each other.”
On his free time in Paris
“Normally I don’t go out much during the tournament, but since I had the day off I spent a little time with my sister. We went to a nice restaurant, took a walk and the weather is also nice here. In Rome it was a little different. So nothing special or too strenuous. Normal stuff, but maybe after the tournament if I have more time.”
Can you beat anyone?
“I sure do, if I play to the best of my ability, although it’s impossible to play well every time and feel great. But I feel confident no matter the surface, if I play my best I can beat anyone.”
On the support of his sister, who travels with him in each tournament
“Actually, she is helping me a lot, because it is still a job, you train every day. With her, if I go back to the room or we go to dinner, we can talk about something else, not just tennis. She is very positive and I absorb a lot of energy from her. So it’s good that we can spend time together. And, she also helps me especially if I have a bad day or something.”
2023-05-26 19:29:02
#play #beat
