"I did ice skating when I was young, but I’m too tall for this sport" - Elena Rybakina picks out dream winter sport to participate in

While the Qatar Open continues in the Middle East, people around the world have been glued to their TV screens watching the Winter Olympics, in amazement of the stunts and tricks being pulled off with thrilling excitement along with it.

The reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina is enjoying a very positive tennis career currently as he adventure in the Qatar Open continues with a lot of positive signs that another title could come her way. She is in the quarter-finals in the hot climate of Doha while the best winter sport athletes continue to go toe to toe in the cold conditions in northern Italy, quite the contrast.

These current games inspired a reporter to ask her what winter sport she would partake in if competing in the coveted event. Rybakina offered her answer: "Maybe skiing because I never actually did it," he unveiled. "I know how to ski on the flat, but not the other way. So, that would be interesting to try."

Along with that, Rybakina gave a mention to ice skating but admitted that her six-foot frame had held her back from doing it in the past. "I did ice skating when I was young, but I’m too tall for this sport, for sure."

The Winter Olympics is gripping tennis players far and wide. 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was in utter disbelief while watching the figure skating with his family, in marvel of the talented skaters and the moves they were pulling off on the ice.

The Italian tennis players also had a key role to play in the games. The world number two Jannik Sinner was a very talented skier when he was younger, competing at a very high level before chucking his ski's away in return for a tennis racket. The passion for winter sports still burns within him as he was chosen to be one of the ambassadors for the games. While he did not watch the Opening Ceremony live at the San Siro due to him wanting to focus on the upcoming Qatar Open, he was still seen in Milan punching train tickets for eager fans traversing to where the action is currently taking place.

Jasmine Paolini has also had a part to play. She was one of the many people who had the prestigious task of carrying the Olympic torch all the way to Milan. The two-time Grand Slam finalist did her part with immense pride as she and others watch on the events currently occurring over in Italy.

Back to the tennis, and once Rybakina stops imagining herself skiing down a mountain, she will be fully focused on a thrilling quarter-final matchup against the highly touted Victoria Mboko who continues to impress on the big stage.

The Kazakh had to beat a brace of Chinese women to get to this point. First up was Xinyu Wang in a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 victory, followed by a comeback triumph over the returning Qinwen Zheng, booking her spot among the last-eight with 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win against the former Olympic gold meda;list.

Mboko will be her toughest test yet. They two have played against each other on three separate occasions despite the Canadian's relatively short stint on the WTA Tour. Rybakina picked up the first win in the last-16 of the DC Open before Mboko got her revenge in one of many high calibre victories enroute to a magnificent Canadian Open title. Their most recent matchup came in the Pan Pacific Open, with Rybakina winning to confirm her spot in the WTA Finals, and the rest is history.