Elena
Rybakina, defending champion at Wimbledon, expressed concerns about her
physical condition shortly before the tournament begins.
Despite
being considered a top contender for the third Grand Slam of the year due to
her impressive performances on grass, Rybakina has had a less than ideal
preparation for Wimbledon. She only played one tournament at the Grass Court Championships Berlin, where she was eliminated in the second round by Donna Vekic.
Following that, the Kazakh
player withdrew from the Eastbourne Open to prioritize her recovery from a
virus she contracted at Roland Garros, which continued to affect her in Berlin.
Rybakina revealed that she spent several days in her hotel room and admitted
that she does not feel 100% ready to start the tournament:
“Of course,
the preparation we did, I would say it was good, but still not the amount of
hours and work we wanted to put in. But overall I think we did maximum what we
could. It wasn't easy after French Open because it took me -- I mean, one week
I didn't do anything, then slowly start. It's been tough,” Rybakina
said.
The 24-year-old
tennis player said she feels ready for her participation in the tournament, but
she hopes to play more matches on grass to feel more confident:
“Well, I
think I'm ready. Of course, a lot of good players. First round is not easy
always, so I think the preparation we did is good enough. Hopefully with every
match I'm going to feel better,” she said.
“Yeah,
important just to start and then we see how I feel. Yeah, I think if I'm going
to get matches more on grass, I will feel more confident, of course,” claimed Rybakina.
Read also
Rybakina
will make her debut against American Shelby Rogers, with whom she has a
head-to-head record of 3-2 in favor of the Grand Slam champion
“We played
a couple times. Two times on grass, I think. She's tough player. She also
serves well. She's trying to play aggressive, so it's going to be not an easy
one. We know each other pretty well. So yeah, I'm going to try to do my best,
of course. We see how it's going to go.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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