"Every match I played, the next day I didn't practice": Elena RYBAKINA prioritising rest after illness during Miami Open final run

Elena Rybakina hasn't practiced after every match she has played making her run even more remarkable at the Miami Open as she saw off Victoria Azarenka in three sets 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 on Thursday night coming back from a second set bagel to seal a spot in the final against Danielle Collins.

Rybakina has been suffering with GNI (gastrointestinal flu) in recent weeks and withdrew from Indian Wells. Still not 100%, she admitted as much during the early rounds of Miami, but still has found her way to the final. She said on Tennis Channel that she is not sure whether she is coming on site ahead of the final and hasn't practiced throughout her run as a tactic to rest more.

"Well, honestly, without any secrets, every match I played here the next day, I didn’t practice. So yeah, it’s also a first time for me, we made this decision, and we see how I’m going to feel tomorrow. But I’m not sure if I’m coming on site," Rybakina said.

She also discussed her calm and positive demeanor during the press conference and how it has got her through tough moments during the tournament. “I think it's just the character, but also if sometimes you can notice that I'm also negative. Of course I need to maybe bring more positive energy and to show the opponent. But I think this tournament, as I said, it's just so difficult for me physically that the only thing I was thinking was not to be negative, because the first matches I was a little bit. Now I knew that I cannot lose energy on these kind of things. I was just trying to keep calm and just focus on every point, because I knew that's the only way to get through this.”