Elena Rybakina Admits her “Last Push” For a Place in the WTA Finals has Taken a Toll on her

Elena Rybakina is now just one win away from claiming her place in the WTA Finals for a third consecutive year. She has had to play consecutive tournaments on tour since the US Open, which has given her an advantage to earn her place in the season-ending tournament as the eighth player.

Rybakina didn’t feature in any tournament during the Asian swing last year, and that has helped her claim more ranking points than so many players vying for a place in the WTA Finals. The World No.7 competed at the China Open and Wuhan Open, but failed to make her mark at the tournaments as she didn’t get past the quarter-finals.

It was at the Ningbo Open, she got her needed boost, winning her second title of the season after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final. She didn’t take any break, traveling from China to Tokyo to compete at the ATP 250 tournament. There, she faced Leylah Fernandez in the round of 16 on Thursday (October 23).

Rybakina had lost to the Canadian star in three sets in the semi-finals of the Washington Open. She avenged the loss with a masterclass performance on the court, breaking Fernandez twice in the second set. The former World No.3 then went on to beat Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 to earn her place in the quarter-finals.

With the win, she looks confident on the court and has extended her winning streak to five consecutive matches. During her on-court interview, she admitted that she was a bit tired during the match but found a way to regroup in the end, beating the in-form Fernandez in straight sets in Tokyo:

I’m feeling a bit tired of course but ready to make the last push. Very happy with the last week. Trying to bring everything from last week to here. Thank you so much for coming and supporting today.

Rybakina began the year with coaching team problems as her decision to rehire Stefano Vukov forced Goran Ivanisevic to split in January. Vukov was then suspended by the WTA for breach of conduct but he won his appeal.

Rybakina was already working with Davide Sanguinetti, but after the return of Vukov, he parted ways with her. Vukov now has full control of coaching her, and she has improved in her game over the last three months.

Elena Rybakina opens up about her difficult preparation for her opening match at the Tokyo Open

Elena Rybakina fired six aces and converted three of her four break-point opportunities against Leylah Fernandez in the Tokyo Open. She was broken once in the match. In the second set, she won 3-0 before Fernandez claimed three games, while the Kazakhstani saved three break points in the fifth game before closing out the win.

During the aforementioned on-court interview, she revealed she had a difficult time preparing for her first match at the Tokyo Open, with the weather preventing her from practicing outside.

Yeah today was a very difficult match, it is always not easy against Leylah and especially first match for me here. And also the conditions changed, when we came it was very rainy so I didn’t even hit outside so yeah pretty happy with the win and looking forward to my next match.

Rybakina will face Victoria Mboko in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Open. The former World No.3 beat the Canadian star in their first meeting at the Washington Open, but the teenager earned her revenge at the Canadian Open in the semi-finals in three sets. Rybakina will be hoping to earn her second win against Mboko.

Also Read: “What are You Referring to?” Andy Roddick Urges Clarity from Novak Djokovic on ‘Monopoly’ Comment

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