WTA FINALS

October 28, 2023

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Elena, how does it feel to have qualified for your first WTA Finals?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Feels great. It just shows that we did really good work with the team. Yeah, happy with my season. Hopefully I'm going to continue like that in the next ones.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. All week the stadium was a topic. What do you think about?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Sorry, again?

Q. The stadium all week was a topic. What do you think about it?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, it's surprise me that we didn't get a chance yet to practice. I think that's the only day now. I'm going to get the first hit in the evening. Tomorrow I have to play the match, so this is a bit disappointed.

But it is what it is. I guess we're going to try to do our best to show good tennis, which is not going to be I think that easy with such a windy conditions.

But overall, I mean, Mexico is really nice. Yeah, I think we just try to do our best here.

Q. A topic on your serve. Obviously it's a dominant shot in the sport, has been this year. When the conditions are like this, even at the practice courts, do you have to make a lot of adjustments in terms of keeping that shot as aggressive and as devastating as it can be?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, definitely I will need to adjust because the wind is quite heavy. I don't know how it's going to be on the matches. For the past few days, which I've been trying to practice here, it's been really tough.

Well, we all in the same conditions. It's just a question of how good are going to be the matches. Yeah, for sure I'm going to stick to my game. I'm going to try to still play aggressive.

Of course, the serve is a weapon, so I try to do my best to adjust to all the conditions.

Q. Last year you won a Grand Slam title. How different is the feeling about that?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Of course, it's different. I think this year I was more consistent, especially in the first part of the year. In the second part was a bit unlucky with the health issues, some sickness. Overall I think I improved a lot.

Of course, last year win at Wimbledon gave me a lot of confidence. I'm feeling much better with my tennis now. Yeah, as I said, the main goal to stay healthy and hopefully I continue next season the same.

Q. (Question regarding Checo Perez and Max Verstappen and Red Bull.)

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I'm not following that much. It's tough question. I just really love my sponsors. I always looking to all the videos.

I mean, I can name you one, but it's great that they have the race now. Actually I'm going to try to maybe check it out.

Q. Sorry for the goofy question, but Halloween is coming up this week. In the past, have you ever dressed up for Halloween? If you could dress up, what would you dress up as?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, great question, because I never dress up for Halloween. My friends were sending me some pictures and videos. They already preparing.

But, well, it's depends. I think also if I would be with my friends, it would be something like group stuff. But definitely I want to do it one day.