“Not easy, for sure, looking forward for clay” – Elena Rybakina on ‘successful’ 2024 performance despite Miami Open final loss to Danielle Collins

Despite her loss to Danielle Collins in the final of the Miami Open on March 30, Elena Rybakina stated that she remains content with her performance in the 2024 season thus far.

Despite her disappointment at having to withdraw from her opening-round match against Nadia Podoroska at the Indian Wells tournament due to a stomach issue, Rybakina remained determined to win her second title of the season at the WTA 1000 event and bounce back from her setback.

The fourth-seeded player started off her Miami campaign on a high note, securing victories against Clara Tauson, Taylor Townsend, Madison Keys, Maria Sakkari, and Victoria Azarenka. This led her to the final, where she faced off against the hometown favorite Collins. Despite putting up a strong fight, she was unable to handle the pressure from the 30-year-old and ultimately fell 5-7, 3-6.

After her match against Collins, Elena Rybakina participated in a press conference where she was questioned about her performance this year. The previous Wimbledon champion responded by describing it as “successful”and expressing her excitement for the upcoming clay season.

“I think it was successful three months,”Rybakina said. “Not easy, for sure, with some illness in between. Yeah, I think in the end it’s successful, a lot of matches I played, a lot of wins. So can’t complain. Looking forward for clay.”

Similarly, Rybakina made it to the final of the Miami Open last year. Despite her strong performance, she was up against the formidable two-time Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova, who ultimately emerged victorious with a scoreline of 7-6(14), 6-2.

Elena Rybakina reflects on her Miami Open 2024 runner-up finish compared to last year

Elena Rybakina drew a parallel between her defeat in the 2023 Miami Open final and her loss this year. She acknowledged that there was added pressure on her last year, having just won the title at Indian Wells and gunning for the Sunshine Double.

“Last year I was coming from Indian Wells, and I knew to make Sunshine Double,”Rybakina told the media. “Everybody says it’s very difficult and with difficult conditions, big change from Indian Wells coming to Miami, so I was there also focusing match by match.”

According to Rybakina, she was satisfied with her performance of playing two solid matches this year and chose not to characterize it as “disappointing.”While she recognizes that losing in a final is challenging, the Kazakhstani remains proud of her “great achievement”in making it to that stage.

“Here I was happy with two good matches, and then again I came to the final. So pretty much I wouldn’t say disappointing. I think last year and this year, it’s good result. Of course it’s not easy to lose in the final, but in the end, in the long run, I think it’s still a great achievement.