Elena Rybakina admits to succumbing to pressure of Roger Federer watching her as she was forced to make a comeback at the Wimbledon opener

With Roger Federer there, defending champion Elena Rybakina overcame her anxiety to win.

Elena Rybakina admits to succumbing to pressure of Roger Federer watching her as she was forced to make a comeback at the Wimbledon opener

Elena Rybakina admitted to feeling a lot of pressure while competing on Wimbledon‘s Centre Court in front of tennis legend Roger Federer in the Royal Box. The defending champion admitted that playing in such a public setting increased the stakes and that it made her uncomfortable to have a sporting legend watch her every move. Despite her worries, Rybakina came back to beat Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a challenging match after dropping the first set. 

The Kazakh star, Elena Rybakina, said throughout the press conference that she has been a devoted follower of Federer’s matches since she was a small girl and admitted her deep affection for him. For her, it was really important to have the chance to compete on Center Court in front of the exact same crowd as the year before. She expressed optimism that later matches would be simpler, but she also understood the mental strain of trying to find her rhythm in the early rounds of the competition.

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Due to sickness that prompted her to cancel her participation in the French Open and skip the warm-up event in Eastbourne, Rybakina had little time to prepare on grass and struggled in the first set. Nevertheless, she immediately regained her sense of humor and now seeks to imitate Serena Williams’ successes in 2015 and 2016 and become just the second woman in the previous decade to achieve back-to-back Wimbledon crowns.

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Also read: WATCH: Andy Murray thanks Roger Federer for supporting him for the first time as the duo share an iconic exchange at the Wimbledon Center Court

Elena Rybakina’s fear and exceptional performance before Roger Federer at Wimbledon

Roger Federer Watch Wimbledon 2023
Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2023 (Credits: Wimbledon Twitter)

In response to a question about her physical state, Rybakina said she is generally in good health but regretted not getting sufficient exercise before the competition. She still has faith in her skills and feels that each time she faces battle, she is going to become more physically prepared to face the problems that lie ahead. She was asked, “Roger Federer was about 10 feet behind you. How inspiring is it to see a legend of Wimbledon clapping every point?”

Rybakina replied, “Yeah, maybe that’s why I was nervous because actually I really like Roger. When I was younger, I was always watching him play. It was very unique. It was quite exciting to return to the same court with the same crowd the following year. To get into the tournament’s flow, I believe the opening games are always mentally challenging. So hopefully the next game will be simpler.”

As Rybakina negotiates the demands and expectations of competing on Center Court, this year represents an opportunity for growth in her career. The defending champ emphasizes the necessity to adjust to the intense environment and attention, recognizing the sharp change from beginning on the smaller court in the previous season. Rybakina may still feel nervous, but she’s committed to adjusting to the challenges and keeping up with her standard of play.

Rybakina will be looking forward to advancing in the tournament by overcoming new challenges, improving her overall well-being, and preserving her peak efficiency.

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