'Strange': Rybakina Talks About Winning Italian Open After Three Retirements

Sunday, 21 May 2023 at 19:00

Updated at Monday, 16 June 2025 at 20:35

byZachary Wimer

Elena Rybakina continued her tremendous season with another strong showing in the Italian Open final, winning the trophy.

The victory itself isn't the type of win she'll celebrate much because it came after the retirement of her opponent, who couldn't continue playing injured. Still, the trophy counts, and it's her second WTA 1000 trophy this year, after Indian Wells.

It was the third WTA 1000 final for Rybakina as well, after the Indian Wells and Miam i, and it concluded what could possibly be the strangest two weeks of her career. She won three matches in Rome thanks to her opponents retiring, and she can't remember anything like that ever happening to her.

"Yeah, for sure, it's a really strange two weeks for me. Like, I don't remember when I got retirement on the other tournament. Here it was like three. It's really strange."

Unprecedented rain delays have also plagued the event as pretty much all days were affected by rain, which was part of atypical weather patterns in Italy, which resulted in flooding in regions further north of Rome.

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Some of those rain delays benefited Rybakina, but mostly they affected the way her daily schedule looked.

"Also with the rain delays, I think my schedule is completely different than usually. I was going to sleep really late, waking up almost like in the afternoon. Yeah, it's strange. But I'm happy that these tough two weeks also finished in a good way for me."

The success in Rome is a welcome change for Rybakina after the disappointment in Madrid, and it gives her confidence for the upcoming events. The main goal is obviously Roland Garros, and having played well there in the past, Rybakina hopes for a big run.

"Well, the tournament is pretty long. I mean, hopefully, I can go far at the French Open. I have good memories playing there. Now I've got more matches on clay, so it's a bit easier and a bit more confident, definitely."