Rybakina, after yet another comeback: “I'm tired; now the most important thing is to get some sleep.”
Elena Rybakina once again demonstrated her tremendous capacity for resilience to come back against Coco Gauff and qualify for the final of the WTA 1000 in Toronto. The Kazakh, who had already faced difficult situations throughout the week, once again reacted after losing the first set and ended up imposing her power to reach her first final in Canada.
“It was another very tough battle, I'm happy that it turned out in my favor again and I hope to recover and play well tomorrow too,” she explained. Rybakina acknowledged that the first set was marked by equality and that Gauff managed to serve very effectively, but she found a way to change the course of the match from the second set onwards. “She served really well in the first set, it was very close, although I feel I rushed a bit with my serve at the end. I knew I had to start the second set well from the very beginning, so I’m happy to have made a couple of good returns and change things up. She also started to feel a bit of pressure, made some double faults, while I just kept going and I'm happy I won,” she stated.
The comeback is even more valuable considering that Rybakina had played a three-set match the night before, while Gauff had enjoyed a day of rest. However, the Kazakh found energy in the decisive moments and avoided thinking about the score. “I guess the adrenaline and so many hours on the court helped a bit. I had my opportunities and I took them, I tried not to think about the score, but to take it point by point. Also with my serve, I simply chose my targets. Even if she knew where I was going to serve, I just went for it and today it worked,” she added.
Final against Swiatek
Now she faces Iga Swiatek in a final that will require another demonstration of resilience. The Kazakh admits that she arrives tired, but she does not plan to give up in the fight for the title. “Yes, I’m tired. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I will definitely give my best and we’ll see. The most important thing is to get some sleep. She has been playing well and it will be another very tough match. We know each other very well. For me, I feel it’s more about recovering after so many hours on the court and bringing as much energy as I can,” she concluded.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina, tras la enésima remontada: “Estoy cansada, ahora lo más importante es dormir un poco”