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Elena Rybakina was asked whether she idolized Maria Sharapova and she answered by revealing that Roger Federer was her first and only idol. Rybakina, 23, was born in Moscow but she has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018.
When Rybakina was making her first tennis steps, former Russian tennis star Sharapova was one of the biggest names in the game. “The idol was for me, like, & still Roger Federer. From the woman's side, I would say that I like just to watch, if I had the chance, like different players.
I won't say from the woman's I had like an idol," Rybakina said, per Musab Abid.
Elena Rybakina when asked whether Maria Sharapova was an idol of hers:
“The idol was for me, like, & still Roger Federer. From the woman's side, I would say that I like just to watch, if I had the chance, like different players.I won't say from the woman's I had like an idol”. — Musab (@Musab_Abid) January 26, 2023
Like Federer, Rybakina is making Grand Slam finals
Half a year ago, Rybakina defeated Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final.
On Thursday, Rybakina defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4) 6-3 ti progress into her first Australian Open final. The women's semifinal matches were scheduled for the evening session and Rybakina revealed after the match that she was concerned her game would be negatively impacted.
“Yeah, for sure. Actually, I didn't expect it's going to be that big of a difference. It was much slower. The ball was heavier. It was difficult to move it. Of course, I had to adjust," Rybakina revealed.
Rybakina made a slow start to the Australian Open semifinal as Azarenka claimed the first break in the fifth game to open a 3-2 lead.Rybakina when asked whether she had to make adjustments for her first night session match:
“Yeah, for sure.Actually, I didn't expect it's going to be that big of a difference. It was much slower. The ball was heavier. It was difficult to move it. Of course, I had to adjust”. — Musab (@Musab_Abid) January 26, 2023
Down by an early break, Rybakina responded by breaking Azarenka in the sixth and eighth games for a 5-3 lead. After winning three games in a row, Rybakina failed to serve out for the first set in the ninth game. In the 11th game, Rybakina faced three consecutive break points but saved them all to eventually force a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Rybakina took a 5-2 lead before realizing her second set point to win the first set. After winning the first set, Rybakina lost her serve once in the second set but broke Azarenka three times to complete a two-set win. Rybakina plays Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final.