BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 8, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/P. Badosa

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Strong performance from you today. What do you think gave you an advantage against Paula?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, today was a tough match, and I think my serve was not working as much as previous, but I think I returned pretty well. I was solid on the baseline. So there is some positive things to take.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You have always had some good clashes with Paula. I think fans were excited for that today. What was it that tipped you over the edge in your clash today?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, in the first set, I think she started better than me. I was too slow for the start, and after, it was not easy to come back. Then it was even. I feel like in the first set I got opportunities, couple of double faults from Paula, and then of course it was a bit easier when you're leading.

And in the second set, I think it was better from my side. I started to feel the serve, especially in the end of the second set, and again, Paula, she just came back. I feel like she needs some time and more matches, but she played really well. Yeah, hopefully we'll play many more times together.

Q. Your serving has been one of your strong points through your career. You mentioned today it kind of went missing a bit. You were about 45% for first serves in. When you lost that kind of main weapon, how were you feeling in that moment?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, of course I was a bit frustrated, because one thing, when the serve is not working for couple of games, but when it's almost the whole match, it's not easy to deal with. I was trying to find my rhythm, but I think only last few games really it got better.

So see, we'll try to work on it, hopefully just in my next match I'm going to serve better.

Q. You have won 13 in a row now on the WTA Tour, which is an extraordinary achievement as you make your way through the Australian summer of tennis, and you have obviously won here in Brisbane before. What is it at the moment that's having you in such stunning form? In your head space or in your life, what's just continuing to drive you at the moment?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Definitely end of the season gave more confidence, and I'm not really thinking about the past. I'm trying to focus on each match here.

We did good preseason, I could say, and this is something hopefully I can carry on through the whole season, and yeah, just these little things of improvement we're still working every day. Even if it's a warm-up of 30 minutes, there is still a lot of things to do.

So I think slowly with the matches I'm just going to get just more confidence, and I like the conditions here, so it's a good preparation for Australian Open.

Q. There is lots of big names in the Brisbane International on the women's side of the draw, 7 of the top 10 here. You're potentially leaning towards a semifinal with World No. 1 and one of your great rivals, Aryna Sabalenka. Have you looked ahead that far?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't think so much ahead. We both still need to win. It's just a match at a time, and then whatever happens, happens.

Q. You mentioned the AO, that's obviously just around the corner. What preparation I guess you're going to do into this one to try and go one better and go all the way?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, first of course matches, as many I can win here is going to give confidence, and then of course I will have one more week before Australian Open starts, so we will have plenty of time to maybe do something physically, and also if needed technically, so there is still time to work on all these things.

Q. What do you have to work on?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Not going to say (smiling). But there is plenty of work.