(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Elena Rybakina acknowledged she didn’t have the best possible preparation for Wimbledon but noted she feels ready to defend her title at The Championships. After withdrawing from her French Open third-round match due to virus infection, Rybakina returned to action in Berlin.
In Berlin, Rybakina won her first-round match before losing to Donna Vekic in the round-of-16. After Berlin, Rybakina pulled out of Birmingham due to the same problem that forced her to withdraw from the French Open.“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 the maximum that we could. It wasn’t easy after French Open because it took me — I mean, one week I didn’t do anything, then slowly started. It’s been tough,” Rybakina said.
Rybakina ‘ready’ for Wimbledon
Although Rybakina played just two grass matches leading up to Wimbledon, she insists she still feels ready for The Championships.
“Well, I think I’m ready. Of course, a lot of good players. The 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. 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,” Rybakina added. In the Wimbledon first round, Rybakina plays against Shelby Rogers. When Rybakina and Rogers meet, it will be their fifth meeting.
At the 2020 US Open, Rogers beat Rybakina in their first meeting. Then, Rybakina won their next three meetings. Last year, Rogers defeated Rybakina in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and they haven’t played since. Now a year later, they are again set to meet on the grass.
It remains to be seen if Rybakina can beat Rogers and make amends for the loss she suffered in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last year.
