AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 28, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/I. Swiatek

7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Back into the semifinals here. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match and what you're most pleased about today.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, really happy with the win, and happy that it was in straight sets. Was a bit struggling in the first set with the serve, but overall, happy that I managed to win in two.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I know you talked about how in the first set the serve was struggling a bit, but you really turned it on in the second set. Just talk about obviously you won the first set, but really just taking it away in the second set.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, I feel like the start was a little bit slow, maybe even from both of us, because the percentage of first serve I think from both was not that high.

Maybe it's because I practiced yesterday indoor. I think she also practiced indoor just because it was too hot. Then you had to adjust. And in the second set I tried to toss from different position and move a bit the toss, so I'm glad it worked out.

Q. I'm curious, back in the semis for the first time in two years, what have you learned throughout your career is the hardest part about winning a Grand Slam?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, the hardest, I would say, to probably stay consistent throughout the two weeks, full two weeks. There is always, like, challenging days, and you can play indoor, you can play outdoor, sun, it can be night match. So all these conditions a bit tricky. Also, how quick you can adapt to these circumstances.

I think probably now I'm more calm and going deeper in tournament. In the beginning, when it's the first final and you go so far in the tournament, of course you are more emotional. Now I feel like I'm just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it's kind of another day, another match.

Q. Elena, the first-serve percentage might have been a little lower, but you still ended up with 26 winners. I'm curious how you think your form through the first five rounds compares to your 2023 form when you did make the final here?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't remember exactly how I was starting in 2023, the tournament. I think it was, by the score, more difficult rounds, but I feel this time I maybe didn't start that good, the matches, in terms of, like, feeling the shots and all this stuff, but I was still managing to win in straight sets.

Physically, I feel well now. It's tough to compare, but definitely on this tournament I played each match a little bit better.

Q. I wanted to ask you about having your coaching box so close to you during the match. Is it a calming influence? How is it? How does it play for you?

ELENA RYBAKINA: For me it's better, of course, that the coaches are closer, because you can hear them better. It's nice to get advice, especially if something doesn't work. So I think it was a good idea to move the coaches a little bit closer to the court.

Q. Do you feel sometimes that you could be getting too much information? Does there come a time in a match that you want to say, Stop, you know, I'm on top of it, or how does that work? Do you get too much information?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Depends, but I think it's better to get more information than not to get any. At least for me.

Q. You mentioned there about making a few tweaks to your serve for the second set. It looks, watching, that you get in a kind of zone. I wondered how it feels for you experiencing that. Are you thinking a lot when you are serving, or are you able to clear your mind and do it?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Of course, I think on the serve where to position myself, and if on one side sun is really bothering, then to try to toss different way. I mean, you need to be able to adjust.

I think in the first set it was pretty difficult, and it took a long time to then start serving better in the second.

Q. Your record since October is 8-0 against top-10 players and 18-2 overall. Obviously your conditioning is probably one aspect to some of that. Is there anything else that's led to your form over the last few months?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think last season the last couple of tournaments I played I gained some confidence throughout tough matches. Of course, this is something I tried to carry to this year, this season. Still, a lot of things to improve, to work on, but the most important that I'm trying to stay aggressive whenever I get the chance to step in, maybe risk a little bit.

Like even today, a couple of shots were very close to the line, on the line, so I'm glad it was going my way, but definitely the most important for my game to stay aggressive.

Q. Can you give us some insight into the next match, the semifinal, your mentality going into it but also Jess Pegula, what type of player is she? What are her weapons? And then Amanda Anisimova as well.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, with Amanda, we just played for the first time in the Final Eight, and it was, of course, different conditions, indoor. The ball was flying a little bit more with the altitude.

She has a pretty good serve, and the first few shots were super aggressive. We practiced also here before the tournament.

So basically we know each other well, as much as I know well, and she knows me well, Jessica. So it's two different types of the game, I would say, but the most important for me to be focused on my serve, since it's a big advantage if it works, and stay aggressive in the rallies.

Yeah, let's see who is going to win.

Q. How would you describe Jessica Pegula as an opponent?

ELENA RYBAKINA: She's very experienced opponent and she moves well, and also her ball stays quite low. So that makes a bit difficult sometimes to play her, but I will try to adjust.

Yeah, we'll see who is going to win. I talk with my team. We make some plan for the match. Yeah, will try to do my best, definitely.