Elena Rybakina reached her second Grand Slam final in 6 months and she compared the two runs.
Back in July, the 23-year-old played her first major final, when she defeated Ons Jabeur to lift the Wimbledon trophy. Now, Rybakina will play another Grand Slam final, this time at the 2023 Australian Open, and after her semifinal win, she admitted that it was easier in Melbourne, mostly thanks to experience from the All England Club.
"I think it was a great challenge for me because for sure they have experience of winning Grand Slams, so it was nothing new for them. For me this time I would say it was a bit easier also compared to Wimbledon when I was playing for the first time quarters, semis, final. For sure they're very experienced players. I knew that I have to focus on every point. I think in the end I did real well."
It's often difficult for players that appear in a major final for the first time, and when they play a more-experienced opponent, they can easily struggle. This time, Rybakina will play against a first-time Grand Slam finalist, Aryna Sabalenka, and so she will be the one with more experience.
"I think because I knew what to expect. Everything was new at Wimbledon. Now I'm more or less understand what to expect. It's nervous no matter what because it's a final. Also semis, you always nervous before the match. But this time I think I was focusing more on the match, what I have to do, and maybe not to think what's going to come or what's going to happen around and so on."
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