Elena Rybakina Reflects on First Conversation with Maria Sharapova After US Open Triumph: “It Was a Special Moment”

Elena Rybakina is on top of the world! She has not only won the third Grand Slam title of her career but also dethroned Aryna Sabalenka from the No.1 ranking.

Rybakina, who had not progressed beyond the fourth round of this Major before this season, knocked out in-form players Qinwen Zheng and Coco Gauff before denying Sabalenka a historic three-peat. Later, during the trophy presentation, Maria Sharapova presented the trophy to her.

Rybakina later sat for an interview with wtatennis.com, where, when asked about the moment with the five-time Grand Slam champion, she revealed it was the first time she had spoken with the former World No. 1.

I talked to Maria for the first time today, actually. I saw her when I was just coming to the tour, and we played the same tournament. Then, I saw her really close in the locker room, she was about to go on her match, but we never spoke.

Sharapova is one of the few women who completed the Career Grand Slam. She lifted her second Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2006. Rybakina needs just the French Open to reach the Career Grand Slam milestone.

I felt so much energy coming from her, and she’s just someone that I was watching on TV when she used to play and win big titles. It was a special moment to talk with her. I lost my thought, but if it’s about Maria, that was just something I never thought might happen to have a conversation with. She was very nice also.

Elena Rybakina added

Rybakina’s participation in the US Open was uncertain after she suffered an injury at the Cincinnati Open and gave a walkover to Iga Swiatek in the fourth round. She has now played four finals in the Majors, losing only the 2023 Australian Open to Sabalenka.

Elena Rybakina on whether she’s playing the best tennis of her career

Elena Rybakina suffered a slump in form last year and started regaining it toward the end of the season. She won in Ningbo, qualified for the WTA Finals, and went on to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

This season, she has already played five finals, winning in Melbourne, New York, and Stuttgart, and losing in Indian Wells and Toronto. Rybakina, when asked during the wtatennis.com interview whether she believes she has been playing her best tennis, said:

From today’s match, yes, I can confidently say that today was a very good match in the level of focus I kept. Of course, we’re all humans, we make mistakes, but today, it was really a great match for my side, especially against such a tough, experienced opponent. Aryna likes this place a lot, she has won so many times, but I feel right now is definitely my best tennis.

Rybakina now trails 8-10 in the head-to-head matchups against Sabalenka. Sabalenka defeated her in the Australian Open final this year. Had the four-time Grand Slam singles champion won the match, she would have become the third woman in the Open Era to complete the hat-trick of the US Open after Chris Evert and Serena Williams.

Rybakina and Sabalenka are now 2-2 in the head-to-head matchups this year. Rybakina suffered both defeats at the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open, both of which Sabalenka won.

The 28-year-old, however, hasn’t yet won a title since her victory over Coco Gauff in Miami. In addition to the Sunshine Double, Sabalenka also clinched the Brisbane International. Both players, after some much-needed rest, will start preparing for the Asian swing.

Also read: Coco Gauff’s Ex-Coach Breaks Down Ben Shelton’s Costly Tactical Errors in US Open Final