“It was such a battle”
Elena Rybakina secured her place in another Australian Open final after a dramatic semifinal victory, prevailing in a tense match that kept the Melbourne crowd on edge until the very end.
Speaking on court after the match, Rybakina reflected on the intensity of the encounter and her satisfaction at coming through a grueling second set.
A hard-fought battle under pressure
“It means a lot to me,” Rybakina said. “Thank you so much to everyone for coming and watching us play. It was such a battle. The second set was epic, and I’m really glad I managed to win it. Jessica played so well, she fought until the end, and I’m just super happy to be in the final.”
The Kazakhstani admitted that the closing stages of the match were particularly stressful, both for her and for her team, as memories of past long tiebreaks at Melbourne Park resurfaced.
“It was really, really stressful,” she said. “I had some epic tiebreaks here a couple of years ago that I lost, so there was a little flashback. But I’m very happy that in the end it went my way, and I’m really looking forward to playing on Saturday.”
Pride in resilience and consistency
Rybakina highlighted her ability to stay composed regardless of the scoreline, especially as the match tightened after a strong start.
“I’m pretty proud that no matter the situation — even when it got very tight — I stayed there and fought for every single point,” she explained. “The match also started really well for me compared to some of the previous ones, so overall there are a lot of positives to take.”
She acknowledged the need for recovery before the final, emphasizing rest as a priority in the coming days.
Looking ahead to the final
Rybakina will face Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, a rematch of their 2023 championship clash.
“It was a great battle back then,” Rybakina said. “In the end she played a bit better and deserved to win. This time, I just want to enjoy the final. Hopefully I’ll serve better than today, and we’ll see how it goes. I’m very excited to play.”
Recovery, routine and a change of scenery
Before stepping onto court again, Rybakina plans to stick to her routine while also allowing herself a brief mental reset.
“I’ll come here tomorrow to practice a little, work with the physio, and then maybe go into the city, do a bit of shopping,” she said with a smile. “I need to do something different, spend a little time away from the courts to refresh my mind before the final.”
Rybakina will return to Rod Laver Arena aiming to turn another Australian Open final appearance into a championship performance.
For a detailed breakdown of the semifinal and how the match unfolded, read our full Rybakina vs Pegula match analysis.