Martina Navratilova commented on Elena Rybakina's victory at the Rome Open.
The Kazakhstani player surprised with her performance at the tournament. Despite her recent success, including winning Wimbledon and reaching the final of the Australian Open, Rybakina was not known for her clay court skills.
By winning a WTA 1000 event on clay, Rybakina has established herself as one of the favorites for the upcoming French Open, which starts in a week. Martina Navratilova expressed that she was not surprised by the level of play displayed by the current world No. 4.
"Her winning in Rome, it's pretty big... I'm not surprised by it. Don't forget, Rybakina grew up on clay. She knows how to move on it. She's a smooth mover, she can neutralize the power of the big hitters & just seems so level-headed in every way," Navratilova said.
Currently, the 2023 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells champion is awaiting her debut at the French Open, where she will face a player who came through the qualifying rounds.
Navratilova on Elena Rybakina: “Her winning in Rome, it’s pretty big… I’m not surprised by it. Don’t forget, Rybakina grew up on clay. She knows how to move on it. She’s a smooth mover, she can neutralize the power of the big hitters & just seems so level-headed in every way.”
