AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2023

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/K. Juvan

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Elena, congratulations. How are you feeling after coming off court?

ELENA RYBAKINA: It was a really long day, but I'm happy with my performance today and happy to go to the next round.

Q. Just in terms of dealing with just the craziness of the last 48 hours in terms of conditions and waiting and all that sort of stuff, what was the key to being able to take the court and stay sharp?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think that I started well today, and I played aggressive. For sure the conditions were different, but it's for everybody the same. The weather is unpredictable this time. It wasn't easy. But overall after a few points I just felt better, and I tried to keep on playing the same.

Q. How would you compare how you feel playing at Melbourne Park this year compared to how you felt at the beginning of your Wimbledon campaign? I remember you saying that the idea of winning that title at Wimbledon seemed so far away. Does the idea of winning the Australian Open seem as far away or seems closer to you?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes, for sure it's different mentality coming to this tournament. Every time I go to play, I want to win, of course. Wimbledon was special.

I didn't have a good period before Wimbledon. I didn't play well and also mentally I was a bit tired, so I even took a break before Wimbledon.

This time I did a good preseason, good five weeks, feeling well. So, of course, I want to win this tournament. For now I'm just focusing match by match.

Q. Looking ahead, you'll face either Danielle Collins, who you have already played this year, or Karolina Muchova depending how that match turns out. Can you specifically with respect to Collins, because you guys just recently played, what makes her dangerous, and what's the key to beating her?

ELENA RYBAKINA: For sure if I'm going to play against Danielle, it's going to be very tough because she's playing aggressive, same as me, and she has very good serve. So I have to be very focused on the return games and for sure on my service game.

Tough match. Tough opening. We'll see how it's going to go.

Q. Karolina, if you play Muchova, obviously very different from Danielle.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes, completely different player, but I think she's really good player with good hands. She has very good slice. We also played against each other a long time ago.

I know she didn't play much tournaments for the past few years, but she's also dangerous and very good opening. I'm going to see the result and prepare. Anyway tomorrow I have some doubles, so it's also good preparation.