Danielle Collins sealed a dramatic Miami Open title 7-5, 6-3 as Elena Rybakina lost for a second year in a row after being defeated by Petra Kvitova in 2023.
But amid the illness that Rybakina recently had she sees the positives in the loss despite handing Collins a perfect farewell in her home state in her final year. It isn’t disappointment, it’s more of an achievement for Rybakina given that she has hardly trained in the recent days after her matches and been exhausted after most.
“Second year and it’s a final, it’s a great result, some consistency, so thank you so much team. We didn’t expect coming here to be in the final, to be honest, but it was a great two weeks, a lot of tough matches, great battles. And thank you so much to the fans for their support throughout these two weeks. It was really amazing and you give energy, you give fighting in all these tough matches,” Rybakina said.
“Of course I want to congratulate Danielle with the great two weeks, great matches. You played here great tennis, for sure. Of course your team also,” she added.
“I think it’s different, but it’s just completely different situation. Last year I was coming from Indian Wells, and I knew to make Sunshine Double, everybody says it’s very difficult and with difficult conditions, big change from Indian Wells coming to Miami, so I was there also focusing match by match,” Rybakina continued.
“Here I was happy with two good matches, and then again I came to the final. So pretty much I wouldn’t say disappointing. I think last year and this year, it’s good result. Of course it’s not easy to lose in the final, but in the end, in the long run, I think it’s still a great achievement,” she added.
Yet another incorrect statement by a tennisupdate mystery “journalist” re: Rybakina (…amid the illness that Rybakina recently had).
Newsflash: Elena is still suffering from whatever gastrointestinal medical issue she’s been battling for months.
Those of us with a lifetime of chronic intestinal issues are hoping it’s not a permanent or incurable problem. But it is affecting her stamina and energy. She even said so last week.
All that aside, it’s obvious to most Rybakina has not had the ‘spring in her step’ nor her speed for some time now. Even though she is not one to emit much emotion on the court — one only need to look into her eyes to notice that “sparkle” is missing.
I sense she, and her team, are hoping she can hit her marks well enough to compensate for the limited movement and eke-out a win. It’s a shame to see Elena losing matches she could own when she’s feeling well. That was far from exciting tennis yesterday. Personally, I just wanted her to end it and get well.