US OPEN

September 11, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/C. Gauff

3-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Superb come-from-behind win, taking out a fan favorite. Your thoughts?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Amazing match. Very close match. Super happy, proud. So, yeah, I don't know, can't find other words, but definitely very happy and proud.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I feel like watching you the past few years, like in 2024 and 2025, you came close a lot at the majors but lost a lot of tough three-set matches, but it seems like this year you've hit a new gear and have been more clutch in these type of situations, like tonight. What do you think was the root of that shift to you kind of being stronger in these sort of tight moments?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I think that now I have very good team around me, good people. It definitely helps. It's been a lot going on in the previous year outside of the court.

I think now all my focus was on tennis. I can't always perform at my best, there is always ups and downs, but I think we've been doing a very good job, right decision in certain situations, because every day is a challenge.

I'm not getting younger also, and physically always some things coming up. So, yeah, I think just all things put together, also experience for the past years on tour, and all these things led to these kind of results.

Q. Elena, we've already mentioned it, taking out a fan favorite. We all know, even the fans know, tennis is not a picnic. It's all about winning or losing. Anything can happen. To be honest, I've never seen a stadium clearing out so quickly like this one. How do you feel in that role being that kind of party crasher?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't know, to be honest. I feel like it was a great match, and of course, a lot of people today wanted Coco to win. It's normal. I think everyone understands.

In the beginning I felt like it was a very nice atmosphere, and only in the end when I was up in the third set crowd really supported a lot Coco. But I tried to focus on myself, tried to not listen.

Yeah, I feel like for me it was also first match on Ashe at night. I enjoyed the atmosphere even if the crowd mostly was for Coco.

Q. So to ask about the final and Aryna, you've played a bunch of very close matches with her, a lot of matches with her. What do you think will be the key on Saturday for you against her?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, we played many times. We practiced also before. She's a very aggressive player. It's difficult to play with her, mentally, physically, because she has big game, big serve.

I will need to come with all the energy I will have, bring my best serve against Aryna and, yeah, make the right decisions in the right moment, because most of the times it's tight, tight score. This is where the decision makes a difference.

Yeah, we will see what's going to happen, but I definitely will try my best and give it all.

Q. You said you're not getting any younger. I'm curious, at 27 years old, do you feel young or no?

ELENA RYBAKINA: No, I feel young, but my body, of course, throughout the years, some things, let's say, not going away completely. Some issues are staying. Sometimes they're just becoming even bigger or in some moments better, and we always need to work.

That's why the right people is important. I feel like without them, it would be very difficult to reach this high point. Yeah, hopefully if we do everything right and, yeah, continue to work a lot, I can stay longer.

Q. What did the Australian Open match with Aryna mean to you at the time, and what does it mean to you now as you approach meeting her again in a major final?

ELENA RYBAKINA: It's important match, and since it's a final, it's honestly, I feel like it doesn't matter who is on the other side. You just want to win and do your best.

But also, I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, because we are all very close in the ranking. Even if something goes wrong in the final, I still have another opportunities, another tournaments until the end of the year.

We push each other when we play these matches, and you clearly can see on what you need to work more. I think that's great that you play against someone who pushes you till the limits.