"When I was younger, I was always watching him play": Rybakina opens up on nerves having Federer watch her in Wimbledon opener

World number three Elena Rybakina has revealed that she was nervous playing in front of former world number one Switzerland’s legendary tennis player Roger Federer.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner, who has won the most Wimbledon titles in the men’s singles history in the Open Era, has visited the Centre Court in the ongoing mega-event.

Rybakina, who is the women’s singles defending champions this time around, stated that it was not easy to play in front of her childhood favourite player.

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"Of course was nervous a bit [to play in front of Federer],” she said. “But overall I'm happy that in the end I managed to win three sets. Maybe that [Federer's presence] is why I was nervous because actually I really like Roger. When I was younger, I was always watching him play.”

Rybakina, who has now booked her place in the quarterfinal where she will play against the last year’s final opponent Ons Jabeur, also talked about how winning the Grand Slam make things different compared to how it was 12 months back.

"The atmosphere and the attention to be on Centre Court, it's different than the last year,” she said. “Because last year I started on a smaller court. With every match I was playing better and better, feeling better. Here it's different. Straightaway you go to this big court. I think for me it's now new chapter and this is something I need to get used and try to maintain my level. Yeah, just to get used to all these things.”

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Rybakina booked her place in the last eight after being awarded a walkover win against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in the round of 16.

Before that, Kazakhstan’s tennis star defeated America’s Shelby Rogers, France’s Alize Cornet and Britain’s Katie Boulter in the first, second and third round fixtures respectively.

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