Rybakina reveals her strategy to beat Swiatek

A thrilling match is coming up between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2026, although all remaining matches are true gems. Their rivalry, however, shows a more attractive ingredient than the others.

We are talking about two well-established top-10 tennis players, hence why they have a beautiful rivalry since the first time they faced each other. In total, they have contested thirteen matches, with Iga Swiatek holding a narrow 7-6 lead. It's now the Polish player's turn to make a move, as she lost the last time in the past WTA Finals. However, this time it was Elena Rybakina who revealed her intentions before clashing at the Australian Open. The Kazakh disclosed her plans to continue advancing in Melbourne.

Victory against Mertens

“I am happy with this win, I believe I played better today compared to previous matches, so I'll take that. For example, in terms of movement quality, I think I improved from the earlier rounds, as well as seeing that my serve is still working. Today was hot, so the ball was flying a lot, and I had to control this to have some good games with my serve. I didn't do badly on returns either; I had many chances to engage with her second serve, at least that's what I tried to do. Overall, I think it was a good match; I'm happy to be back in another quarterfinal”.

The heat is not a problem

“I don't focus much on the temperature; I just know when the heat rule applies. Obviously, they highlight there that we have more time for the changeover, but one tries not to dwell too much on the heat; I just go out and think about doing my job. If you have the chance to stay a bit longer in the shade, even if it's to get an extra minute, then it's great”.

Elena Rybakina reveals her strategy against Swiatek

“We have played many times in the past, so I know what I need to face her. I have to stay aggressive and always look for my shots. When we have played here, it has always been very hot, so the ball was flying, just like today. We'll see what the conditions are and who ends up taking the victory. Definitely, my focus is on my serve; this is crucial as it will allow me to continue being aggressive later on”.

She has won 17 of her last 18 matches

“I don't think about my matches at all nor about my streak since last season ended; quite some time has passed since the season ended and the new one began. I am mainly focusing on my training, on what I need to improve, how I feel every time I step onto the court, and what adjustments we need to make every day. It's no longer about all the wins I had, although it's great to remember. Here, I need to keep working and do what needs to be done every day”.

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Her connection with Kazakhstan

“It's been a long time since then; I had just finished my studies, was thinking of going to study in the United States, although turning professional also appealed to me, though it wasn't easy financially. I remember playing the first WTA tournaments and achieving great results; that's how our paths crossed. I am very grateful to Kazakhstan, to all the help the federation provided me, and their support. I have been representing Kazakhstan for many years, bringing titles, which is great. It's impressive to see how children admire you; since then, tennis has grown a lot in the country”.

The importance of court positioning

“Court positioning is crucial; it all depends on the shots you're receiving. If there's a deep rally, for example, I always try to intervene. I think Iga has been moving very well throughout the tournament; against her, I'll not only have to stay aggressive but also vary my shots a bit, perhaps with some variety. I don't necessarily think about my position on certain shots, but it's essential to always remain close to the baseline, to then finish the exchange closer to the net”.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina revela cuál será su estrategia para ganar a Swiatek