ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2025

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/I. Jovic

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Into the third round. Give us your thoughts on the match today and playing a younger opponent out there today.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, tough match today. Was really long day. But happy with the win. We played before, so I knew how she plays. More or less happy, happy with the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How are you feeling overall about your year? Some high moments, some early losses. How do you measure your 2025 overall?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, definitely it's not the start I usually had before. Usually after pre-season I played really well. This time it was different. I missed last year end of the whole season. Takes time for me to get back where I want to be.

But slowly I think we are on the right direction, working pretty much on everything to be better every day.

Q. I wanted to ask your impressions of her, since you now played her twice. What sort of a player? How would you describe her as a player? What do you think her strengths are?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I think I would say that maybe on hard court it's a little bit she's more dangerous. Maybe clay... I think the clay is very specific, and maybe not everyone feel so comfortable.

Feel like on hard maybe she's more dangerous. I think she has good strokes and overall attitude also is there. She's fighting. I think just a matter of experience and match play on tour.

Q. You said today has been a really long day. Could you describe your day, when it started, when you got here?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I had a hit at 2:30, but I was here on-site already at 1. It was a bit raining. Didn't change the schedule so much. But the match before, men's, was a little bit longer.

Not much I did. I just warm up, changed, had lunch, talked a bit with the team, then I was just waiting for my match.

I had a nap, which I usually don't do. But it was really long match before, so... Yeah, then warmed up again before the match.

Q. One of the unique things about tennis is that you don't know when your match is going to start. What's the most memorable moment you've had where you've been waiting for a match? I imagine you have to warm up quite a few times sometimes.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, I don't remember the specific match. Definitely if you play after men, you never know what's going to happen because they play three-out-of-five. It's a bit tricky.

But you have to be ready. If you go to warm up and then the match continues, and you just wait and warm up again. This is maximum you can do.

Q. Does it make you dislike five sets when you're waiting behind a male player?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Does it what?

Q. Make you dislike best-of-five sets?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I mean, no, I don't really focus on that. It is what it is. You trying to do your best. It happens sometimes.

Q. You play Ostapenko next. What do you think about her as an opponent?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Dangerous opponent. She hits the ball really hard. She can be very aggressive. So I will definitely need to focus a lot on my serve, be focused, be solid, patient, take the chances when I get them.

Q. What is she like as a returner?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, it all depends because if I serve well, I have a good placement that day, it's not easy to return no matter who's on the other side.

But definitely she has some good shots which, even if you serve well, it can be tough because she can return really well. We will see how it's going to go.

Q. With Stefano, are you able to find courts to practice with him during the tournament or is the only not at tournament times?

ELENA RYBAKINA: No, we usually practice together between the tournaments, not when the tournament is on.