PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 19, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/K. Muchova

7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Elena, congratulations. You have won your second title here in Stuttgart. A great week for you. What were you most pleased about with your performance today?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Thank you. Yeah, really happy with the win, and it's nice to win same tournament second time. First time for me winning the second tournament, so it's really nice, special feeling, and of course the car, which is amazing. So, yeah, very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We always ask about your serve and the importance it has in your game, but I think today, in particular, most crucial parts of the first set, your return was amazing. I wonder how much is, like, pure instinct that you have or your ability to read where the player is going to serve?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I was trying to read her serve, and in the beginning everything worked. I think her percentage was not maybe as high.

Then she started to serve a bit better, harder, and even knowing where the ball is coming and it was kind of on the racquet, but still, I was missing the shots. So it went pretty tight in the first set.

But then, in the second, I was just trying to be more solid. Yeah, I think the return improved. I was managing to see where she was gonna serve. So, yeah, pretty happy with the performance throughout the whole tournament.

Q. I think there was a special atmosphere for a final, and light show and everything going on? Can you keep cool then, or is it that you are excited?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I was excited, of course. The atmosphere was amazing. Even more people I think came, and a lot of support for both of us, so it was really nice to play here.

Also, I was focusing of course on the game, and I was trying to give everything I have, fight for each point because it's a final, and of course both of us wanted to win.

Q. Congrats on the win. Just checking, you're also improving on the ranking points, No. 2 last couple of weeks, but you're getting closer to Aryna. Is it something you have your eye on how much points are still there? Is it a goal for you to get to No. 1?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I'm not really focusing on the points. I know my team is checking sometimes, but that's not the goal. The most important for us, to be consistent and do well, because you can't control how other players are gonna play. You just need to do your job as best as possible.

I think for now everything was working well, and we just try to continue now for the big tournaments ahead, and hopefully I can get all the positives from this week to the next tournaments.

Q. Congratulations. Do you think that the end of the first set was the key moment? You served for the set, yes, and then you lost the game, but then you won 7-5. What did you think in the end of this set?

ELENA RYBAKINA: First set was important, of course, because I was up quite a lot and then couldn't win straightaway with my service games. So we came to 5-All, and I was just thinking that I need to push for the serve, try to get this game, and then the next one just play point at a time and try to be solid.

I think on the first service game, I was rushing a little bit, and she really returned well couple times. So it went very quickly. Also, I feel like here, it can be couple shots, like, net or line, and then you are unlucky, but then the score is completely changing. I was just trying to stay focused.

I'm happy that I won the first set, and then in the second, it was a little bit easier to start.

Q. You have already won a Porsche. What will you do with the second one? Will you keep it, or will you sell it?

ELENA RYBAKINA: No, I will definitely keep it (smiling), enjoy the car. Well, I'm not the one who is driving. I have a huge team, family. I think we're all gonna enjoy.

Yeah, it's pity that we are so much on tour that you cannot really stay home longer and enjoy cars, but when the season will end, definitely that's something I'm gonna do.

Q. Was it kind of different this year to win a car or to get the motivation to win a car now you can drive it, you're allowed to drive it, compared to two years ago?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, two years ago it was pity that I had to go in the passenger seat instead of driving the car (smiling). And now it was just really nice.

At that time when I won first time, I said to myself, Okay, next time I want to come back and ready to drive.

So it happened, and yeah, I'm very glad and super happy.

Q. Just as a driver, how would you describe your driving style? Is it a calm type of driver as you are on court, or is it fast kind of driver as you play?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, for me, it's tough to say. I think people next to me should judge, but I think I drive pretty safe. There is moments when I'm relaxed and I'm not rushing anywhere. There is moments where you want to go quicker, so I think the most important that it's safe.