Elena Rybakina has admitted to having no expectations for the 2024 WTA Finals after a year filled with several physical issues.
Rybakina started her WTA Finals campaign against Jasmine Paolini, who has enjoyed an outstanding breakout season. She reached the French Open and Wimbledon finals. Her run to the final at the French Open included a quarterfinal triumph against Rybakina.
Returning against a player of Paolini's exceptional quality would always be challenging. Rybakina had not played since the first round of the US Open more than two months ago.
Rumors have circulated that the Kazakhstani's absence was linked to her and longtime coach Stefano Vukov's split. That occurred a few days before the US Open began, and the 25-year-old did not reveal any details about why they had parted.
Some reports suggested that Vukov, routinely criticized for his aggressive and harsh behavior toward Rybakina during matches, may have been banned from the WTA Tour for unspecified reasons.
One well-known journalist said Rybakina had psychological problems after working with Vukov, and she was not in the right state to compete on the WTA Tour, creating concerns for the 2022 Wimbledon champion's well-being.
However, in a press conference at the WTA Finals, Rybakina insisted that she was all good with Vukov and wished him well for the future. She also thought a change in direction with a new coach was positive.
Rybakina had exciting news about who would take over from Vukov: Goran Ivanisevic will become her coach after the 2024 season. She is competing at the WTA Finals with her sister and team members, who have been with her for a while.
Ivanisevic coached Novak Djokovic for nearly five years, helping him win nine Grand Slams. Fans were left surprised when the two parted ways in March of this year, but Djokovic still considers Ivanisevic a family friend.
Rybakina lost her opening match against Paolini in two close sets. Although any defeat is disappointing, the Kazakhstani highlighted the physical issues she has been dealing with in a press conference and said she is just happy to be back on the court.
"Yeah, this year I had a lot of ups and downs starting with sleep problem, like insomnia, whatever it was. Then allergies, then back. When you have such a rhythm, it's not easy to stop. But after I got used to some rest, I would say. It was really nice."
"Again, it's not easy to start after this break. But I'm happy with the work we did in the last two weeks. Of course, I'm not maybe at my 100%. Yeah, I'm just looking forward and happy to be healthy now and start playing."
"Yeah, no expectation. Just fight, have fun. Most important for me to stay healthy, yeah, be ready for pre-season and starting fresh for next year."
Rybakina might not be at her best at the 2024 WTA Finals, but it is still great to have one of the top players in the world back on the court competing.
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