Elena Rybakina targets deep run at Roland Garros after Rome triumph
She is the sixth player in the WTA 1000 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface
21 May 2023 - 18:34
byShrivathsa Sridhar
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in action during the women's singles final against Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina at the Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 20 2023. Picture: GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/REUTERS
Bengaluru — Elena Rybakina will head to the French Open with the confidence that she can be as effective on clay as she is on the other two surfaces with her booming serve and groundstrokes after the Kazakh world No 6 won the Italian Open on Saturday.
The Moscow-born 23-year-old bagged her second title of 2023 after her Indian Wells triumph and fifth overall when Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina retired while trailing 6-4 1-0.
Wimbledon champion Rybakina became the sixth woman since the introduction of the WTA 1000 format in 2009 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface after Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Ash Barty.
“I think with my game, I can play good on all the surfaces,” said Rybakina, who also reached the Australian Open and Miami finals this season.
“It’s just maybe for clay I need to be ready more physically and have a lot of preparation which I don't always have the time for after the hard court season.”
Rybakina reached the third round at Roland Garros in 2022 and hoped playing in Paris would be easier this time.
“The tournament is pretty long. Hopefully I can go far. I have good memories playing there,” Rybakina said.
“Now I’ve got more matches on clay, so it’s a bit easier and there’s a bit more confidence, definitely.”
Kalinina, whose hopes of a first title were dashed due to a leg injury, said Rybakina had the qualities to succeed on clay.
“She’s serving at 200km/h. She’s making winners like no-one on tour ... anyone can win in Paris, but she has good chances,” Kalinina said.
“She’s an amazing player, a top player. I’m sure if she’s going to [play] like this, maybe new world No 1 for sure.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Elena Rybakina targets deep run at Roland Garros after Rome triumph
She is the sixth player in the WTA 1000 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface
Bengaluru — Elena Rybakina will head to the French Open with the confidence that she can be as effective on clay as she is on the other two surfaces with her booming serve and groundstrokes after the Kazakh world No 6 won the Italian Open on Saturday.
The Moscow-born 23-year-old bagged her second title of 2023 after her Indian Wells triumph and fifth overall when Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina retired while trailing 6-4 1-0.
Wimbledon champion Rybakina became the sixth woman since the introduction of the WTA 1000 format in 2009 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface after Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Ash Barty.
“I think with my game, I can play good on all the surfaces,” said Rybakina, who also reached the Australian Open and Miami finals this season.
“It’s just maybe for clay I need to be ready more physically and have a lot of preparation which I don't always have the time for after the hard court season.”
Rybakina reached the third round at Roland Garros in 2022 and hoped playing in Paris would be easier this time.
“The tournament is pretty long. Hopefully I can go far. I have good memories playing there,” Rybakina said.
“Now I’ve got more matches on clay, so it’s a bit easier and there’s a bit more confidence, definitely.”
Kalinina, whose hopes of a first title were dashed due to a leg injury, said Rybakina had the qualities to succeed on clay.
“She’s serving at 200km/h. She’s making winners like no-one on tour ... anyone can win in Paris, but she has good chances,” Kalinina said.
“She’s an amazing player, a top player. I’m sure if she’s going to [play] like this, maybe new world No 1 for sure.”
The French Open begins on May 28.
Reuters
Players want Italian Open to give women equal pay long before 2025
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka bewildered by locker room hate
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Djokovic says new generation has arrived after Rome quarterfinal exit
Players want Italian Open to give women equal pay long before 2025
Nadal missing French Open would be ‘brutal’ for the sport — Federer
Sabalenka advances to Madrid Open semis
‘Hard court specialist’ Medvedev ‘realistic’ about clay courts
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.