CHINA OPEN

October 1, 2026

Elena Rybakina

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Elena, welcome back to Beijing. Your first tournament as the new world No. 1. How have your preparations been for this tournament and what are your goals for the week?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Thank you. It's nice to be back.

It's been very quick turnaround. I love China. For now I've been practicing. Didn't go much outside because it's been very difficult couple I would say months, a lot of tennis, a lot of energy spent. I needed to recover, stay a little bit home, rest.

Now I'm here trying my best. Hopefully I can do well again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I know after US Open you were explaining how you were really excited to go to Kazakhstan, celebrate there. What were some of the highlights there, celebrating with your country?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, since it's been a lot of traveling also, I passed by Bratislava. Then I went to Kazakhstan. I did some commitments which I had to do. Unfortunately I didn't manage to also do different stuff which I wanted, like with the kids, some clinics. I spent very nice time in the house resting, relaxing.

So yeah, it's been a good time.

Q. In 2022 you won your first Grand Slam. You took your four-year break. Now you're back this year with two more. Do you have an ultimate goal in tennis, that you could walk away from the game completely satisfied?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I think at the US Open I said it will be nice to win French Open, then it's going to be four slams. I mean, now I'm No. 1, which is great. Still it's not end of the season. I would like to push and finish at No. 1.

I mean, who knows what's going to happen. It's a lot of good players, a lot of tough opponents. Anything can change.

I mean, that's the goal for now.

Q. This year you have won the Australian Open and US Open. All of a sudden you are the one to beat. What clicked? What brought on this form? You're almost invincible on the court now.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, a lot of hard work. My hard work, team's hard work. So yeah, it's been a lot of practicing, a lot of training.

Q. You have already had a training session. I saw you didn't wear the protecting ankle. How are you feeling physically and mentally?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Since I was resting, my foot was a bit better. Now I'm back on the court, I still feel here and there. Again, I try to push myself, see how far I can go in this tournament.

Mentally, I think that now I'm better. It's been a lot of things after US Open definitely. Yeah, I'm ready.

Q. After achieving such big milestones, what is one thing that has changed in your daily life that maybe fans wouldn't notice?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I don't know. I think everyone can notice it's been very difficult, intense couple of weeks, that my face can show it with allergies and all the things which are happening to me all the time.

Nothing. I have the same routines, doing same things. Nothing really changed.

Q. Your opinion now that you're the new No. 1 in the world, what do you think the mindset of the No. 1 player in the world should look like?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I have no idea. I just came No. 1. I feel like the most important is to enjoy. It's not easy always. For that I have people around me. Sometimes I can be down or up. It's important to enjoy.

I think today was the first practice where I would say, okay, I feel a bit my foot. It was not maybe the greatest feeling that you have some physical issues.

I really enjoy the practice. I think that's the most important. I love compete.

I don't know how the No. 1 should be. I don't know.

Q. In terms of you saying that you're happy to be back in China, you're quite a popular player here. The fans have the signs, trinkets. Have you had a lot of opportunity yet to interface with your fans maybe at practice sessions at all? What is it about China that you're excited to be back here?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Yeah, practice sessions, a lot of people coming to watch. In China I would say I had always a lot of support. It's nice to see everyone coming, yeah, cheering, just watching my practice. It's not everywhere you can see so many people.

What's the other question?

Q. Have you had an opportunity to interact with them here?

ELENA RYBAKINA: Well, I'm going to go after here to do more things.

Q. Since you are here for the tournament in Beijing, do you have any time to explore the city, or just tennis and recovery?

ELENA RYBAKINA: I've been sleeping a lot, not doing much. This is what I needed to recover. I didn't go anywhere yet here in Beijing. Hopefully, yeah, some days after the matches, we will see.

I go definitely to eat at some nice places.