OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 4, 2025

Elena Rybakina

Mixed Zone

E. RYBAKINA/M. Kostyuk

6 1, 2-1 [ret.]

Q. Two years ago you played the quarters here in Montreal. It lasted 3 hours and 27 minutes. This was quite different. How will it be to be somewhat fresh when you play the semis this time around?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, of course, it feels much better. I think I played good matches here last time. Of course, we were unlucky with the weather. We had to stay all day. It is a big difference.

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the way I played throughout the whole tournament so far, and hopefully I can do same good my next match in the semis.

Q. I'm sure it was a bit of a bitter ending two years ago. Did that come back in your mind when you got here last week? Is that something you wanted to

ELENA RYBAKINA: Not really. I was not thinking about something what happened, like two years ago. It was a long time ago. Plus, I feel like for us tennis players, every day is a little bit different, so you need to focus on the moment.

I think so far the weather has been pretty good. A bit windy, but it's really nothing compared of what it can be. So yeah, it's really nice week for me here.

Q. How would you describe your season so far?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, the season overall is not bad. Of course, I had more success in the previous years, and it was a bit tough for me at the beginning of the year.

I feel like I used to play much better in the first part of the year usually, but it took me some time to get back to level I want to be. I think that now I'm happy how the things are going, and hopefully I can change a little bit what was happening in the past years and play even better in the second part of the year.

Q. What stood out about Victoria when you faced her last in Washington?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, she's a tough opponent. She has really good strokes, and she plays fast, and she has really good serve. I feel like in Washington it was also a bit difficult for both of us since it was a night match, and the conditions were, like, very different. Now we are playing here, and it's more consistent, I would say.

So she's definitely dangerous. She has nothing to lose, and I'm sure she's enjoying out there. Yeah, it's going to be a tough one. Hopefully I can bring my best.

Q. A win is always a win, but is it disappointing to win when the other player has to retire because of an injury?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, of course, it's not a nice finish of the match. No one I think wants to finish the match like this, but we played at least a set. I can say that on the baseline I was feeling quite well. A bit of struggle on the serve, but this is something for me to work on tomorrow.

So yeah, I mean, for Marta, she's a tough competitor. She always fights. I just wish her a speedy recovery, because I know it's not easy when the big tournaments are ahead.

Q. You had break points on each of her four serves in the first set. Are you surprised by that?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I'm not surprised, because I know that can be happen again, but again, she can change it quickly around. That what was happening in the end.

I had a lot of break points. Couldn't get all of them, but in the end, I managed. So I'm pretty happy with the result.

Q. The match lasted officially, like 54 minutes. There were stoppages on top of that. You know, you have to feel really fresh right now. Could you play another match right now or...

ELENA RYBAKINA: Of course, I feel a bit fresher than the previous match I played, which was like three hours, really tough battle.

Yeah, this stop was a bit difficult also because two times it was before my serve, and I couldn't get the read and also the stop.

Overall physically, I'm happy how I feel, and hopefully can continue this way.

Q. You mentioned playing at night in Washington. Generally do you prefer one or the other, day or night, or is it very much condition specific or tournament specific?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, it all depends. I really like to play more in the evenings. Of course, not super late evening sessions, but you never know.

Now I think it was consistent, and the rest of the matches are going to be more or less at the same time, which is good. So yeah, I would prefer probably to wake up a bit later and have later match.

Q. If Victoria wins, you're going to face the local favorite. Do you enjoy those types of games when you're playing against a player and against a whole stadium as well?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, of course, I understand that a lot of people will cheer for her, and she's young. As I said, she has nothing to lose. So it is dangerous, I would say.

I will just try to focus on myself, on my serve especially, because I know if it's really working, then I have much more chances. So that's going to be the goal.