"Gonna take time for me to get back in my best form" admits Elena Rybakina after recent illness issues

Elena Rybakina will defend her final run from the Miami Open this week and has started with victory over Clara Tauson and will now take on Taylor Townsend for a spot in the Last 16. But she has admitted she is cautious amid a recent illness that saw her withdraw from Indian Wells.

Citing a gastrointestinal illness as her reason for withdrawing, Rybakina took her time even leaving California and was there until towards the final weekend and it seems caution is the name of the game. Especially given her woes last season which saw her going from playing the form of her life to struck down with an illness and could hardly hit a ball in the run-up to Wimbledon. But she is successfully through to her next tie in Miami and will aim to regain form slowly but surely.

"Really happy with the win. It was such a tough match especially first rounds, they're always difficult," said Rybakina.

"For me, this win means a lot because I was not really playing for more than a week and of course, it's gonna take time for me to get back in my best form but really happy to get another chance and play in the next days."