Elena Rybakina on French Open chances after Stuttgart triumph - 'I can win a Grand Slam on any surface'
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Published 22/04/2024 at 08:58 GMT
Elena Rybakina has talked up her chances of winning the French Open after beating Marta Kostyuk to claim the Stuttgart Open title. The world No. 4 says she always believes in herself, adding: “if I feel fresh, if I'm physically ready, healthy, I'm playing my game, of course I have all the chances to win a grand slam on any surface". Roland Garros starts in four weeks.
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Elena Rybakina says she is in the right shape to challenge for the French Open title, believing she can “win a Grand Slam on any surface”.
The world No. 4 picked up her third WTA trophy of the year by beating Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-2 in the final of the Stuttgart Open on Saturday.
On the way, Rybakina also knocked out top seed Iga Swiatek as she bounced back from defeat to Danielle Collins in the Miami Open decider last month.
Roland Garros gets underway live on Eurosport and discovery+ on May 20, and the Kazakh is confident she can be in the mix to win her second major title, following her victory at Wimbledon in 2022.
"I always believe in myself, of course, but it not only depends on me," Rybakina said.
"There are a lot of great players, tough opponents. But I know if I feel fresh, if I'm physically ready, healthy, I'm playing my game, of course I have all the chances to win a Grand Slam on any surface."
Stuttgart was Rybakina’s first outing on clay this season but she will now head to the Madrid Open, where she has a bye into round two.
The 24-year-old is arguably in the most consistent form out of any of the challengers for the French Open, having notched a tour-leading 26th win of the season.
“I’m really happy with all the matches I played here throughout the week, especially in the final, [it] was very solid from me,” said Rybakina when asked what pleased her most.
“I think just the consistency, of course, and how I’m managing to play all these tournaments until the end, because it’s really tough with the schedule we have, with all the jet lags and changes of the surface.
“It’s been a lot of matches, and I’m happy that for now I’m managing to fight through all these tough matches and be able to be in the finals”.
Rybakina will face either a qualifier or Lucia Bronzetti in her Madrid opener, and could meet Kostyuk in a rematch of the Stuttgart final in the last 32.
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