Elena Rybakina addresses Roger Federer trait she shares and makes confession about Miami run

Ewan West
Elena Rybakina after beating Victoria Azarenka at the 2024 Miami Open
Elena Rybakina celebrates reaching the 2024 Miami Open final

Elena Rybakina discussed the fact she shows little emotion on court in a similar way to tennis legend Roger Federer after she reached the 2024 Miami Open final.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion also revealed she has not been practising the day after her matches during her Miami run and that this is the first time in her career she has followed this approach.

Rybakina defeated world No 32 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(2) in the semi-finals of the Miami Open on Thursday.

The world No 4 earned the only break to edge a tight opening set, before winning just five points in the second set as she was bagelled by the 34-year-old Belarusian.

The 24-year-old recovered in the third set and sealed an impressive and hard-fought victory in a decisive tiebreak, after she was broken serving for the match at 5-4.

Rybakina has reached the Miami Open final for the second straight year, having lost to Petra Kvitova in the 2023 championship match to fall one win short of completing the Sunshine Double.

The Kazakh will face world No 53 Danielle Collins in the title match after the 30-year-old American downed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2 in the last four.

READ MORE: Danielle Collins balks at being asked to explain retirement

In her post-match press conference, Rybakina was asked about her composed on-court demeanour and if she models herself on Federer in this regard.

“I think it’s just the character, but also if sometimes you can notice that I’m also negative. Of course, I need to maybe bring more positive energy and to show the opponent,” she explained.

“Now I knew that I cannot lose energy on these kind of things. I was just trying to keep calm and just focus on every point, because I knew that’s the only way to get through this.”

Rybakina named Federer as her tennis idol during the 2023 Australian Open and she divulged that the Swiss icon attending one of her matches at Wimbledon later that year made her nervous.

The seven-time WTA titlist also outlined a routine she has been adhering to at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami during an interview with Tennis Channel.

“Well, honestly, without any secrets, every match I played here the next day, I didn’t practise. So yeah, it’s also a first time for me, we made this decision, and we see how I’m going to feel tomorrow. But I’m not sure if I’m coming on site,” Rybakina said.

READ MORE: WTA star announces that she is expecting a baby girl

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