NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 5, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/D. Kasatkina

6-3, 5-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, a hard-fought match, and in the heat as well. Just your thoughts on the performance.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, it wasn't my best performance, but I'm happy that I managed to win.

And, yeah, playing against Dash is always tough. We always have battles. So, yeah, I'm just glad to have another opportunity.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. With the gap between Wimbledon and now, how anxious were you to get back on the court and play? Were you very eager to play?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Obviously, yes. I've been practicing for couple of weeks and I felt that it's time to play matches finally. So, yeah, I'm happy now to play the tournaments.

Q. Tough match out there today. I know you maybe spoke in previous press conferences about your level maybe not being where you quite want it to be. How would you assess your level as it stands right now, and do you feel like there are things in your game that maybe you want to see better?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Definitely I want to see better serve, the percentage. Today in key moments it worked, but still the percentage is quite low. Since it's my advantage, it's better if it's working, and you feel more confident, of course.

So, yeah, definitely serve. I feel like I'm still adapting a bit to the jet lag and everything, so maybe energy level could be better.

But overall I think, as I said, she's a tough opponent. And for the first match it wasn't too bad, but of course I want to improve.

Q. The WTA announced that they're going to give the gender test to players. I wonder how you feel about it, and if the players have been given a chance to give their opinions and insights about it.

ELENA RYBAKINA: I mean, I don't know what to comment. If we got to do it, we will do it.

For me, I won't say it's unnecessary, but I think it was without these tests also fine. But if we need to do it, we will do it.

Q. Do you feel like you've been given a chance to be educated about everything that it involves?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yes.

Q. And about how it will happen?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah.

Q. When you talk about how improving your first serve percentage, when it isn't working is it a contact point in the racquet, is it the ball toss, what is it, or is it just all of those factors combined?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, it's a bit of everything. It's just the motion itself, finding this correct trait.

And the toss, when it's windy you are trying to adapt, same as if the sun is really bothering. So you're trying to always find a way. It might also make it worse.

So, yeah, it's just all the small details which I need to pay attention.

And then of course the push of the legs. When the ball is getting old, it's more difficult to control. The ball by itself is light and, yeah, it's flying a lot. So all these little things I need to focus on, and when it comes together it's a good serve.

Q. You had a great start to the season, obviously winning Melbourne and making the finals of Indian Wells. Both of those were obviously hard court tournaments. Do you feel like stepping back on hard courts you feel more confident in your game, or does it really not make a difference?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I feel like I can play good on all the surfaces. This time maybe grass wasn't the result I wanted, and clay also. But I don't think it's because of the surface or any of that.

I think it's mostly about my preparation and the mentality I go to play the tournament.

I'm happy to be back definitely on hard courts, since the hard court season generally is longer, beginning of the year, end of the year. So, yeah, it's a different preparation to all the surfaces, but I'm happy to be on hard court.

Q. You mentioned preparation, and that being an important role. Do you feel like your preparation for maybe clay or grass wasn't as ideal as you had hoped for?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, we've been practicing, I would say, a good amount. We did everything possible. But it wasn't enough.

Sometimes it also takes longer for me to get used to the surface. Then, of course, it depends how you start also these tournaments.

Then the confidence, either you have it or you didn't play enough matches. But I think we did everything we could.

Also, not always I'm physically ready to do at my maximum. So we always need to adapt. But I think this time we actually did better job, so let's see how this hard court season will go.