The world No.1 stepped out of an harm cloud and into the NY strain cooker like a real champion.
Chris OddoSeptember 13, 20263 minute learn
Twenty-three days earlier than Elena Rybakina lifted the US Open trophy, she wasn’t certain she would be capable to play in New York in any respect.
Rybakina pulled out of her Cincinnati quarterfinal towards Iga Swiatek after simply 5 video games due to an Achilles harm. What adopted was uncertainty, medical consultations and 7 days with out touching a racquet.
Three weeks later, she was the US Open champion, which even she discovered stunning.
“I’m shocked, to be sincere. I’ve no phrases,” Rybakina stated. “I used to be coming right here a bit bit injured — not a bit bit injured. By some means, day-to-day, we had been looking for a method, adapting to all of the challenges I used to be waking up with on daily basis.”
The harm was notably regarding in line with Rybakina, as a result of she has handled a power foot concern for years. After arriving in New York, an MRI didn’t alleviate all considerations.
“It didn’t look that nice,” she stated. “We needed to discuss with lots of docs to get opinions on what we should always do.”
Working intently along with her staff and a physician in Australia, Rybakina spent the following week not working towards for the ultimate Grand Slam of 2026, however shuttling between her lodge room and the health club, specializing in therapy and restoration.
“I used to be not touching my racket for seven days earlier than the event,” she revealed on Saturday after defeating Aryna Sabalenka, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 within the remaining.
As soon as cleared to play, Rybakina had simply 4 days of on-court apply earlier than her first spherical.
Outstanding that she made the entire run look comparatively straightforward, and a real testomony to the standard of her tennis.
Possessing arguably the very best serve within the ladies’s recreation and the flexibility to dictate factors from the baseline, Rybakina averted bodily tussles early on. She didn’t drop a set via 4 rounds and progressively appeared extra comfy than ever at a event the place she had by no means beforehand superior past the fourth spherical.
No.1 Stress Drop
There was one other supply of strain, that finally fell by the wayside.
Rybakina arrived in New York chasing the No. 1 rating together with three different gamers – Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Sabalenka – and when she clinched it by reaching the semifinals she stated it gave her a way of reduction.
“It was a reduction afterward as a result of I achieved one aim,” she stated. “Then, in fact, no matter occurs after, you simply attempt to play.”
After starting 2026 by profitable the Australian Open — her first main title since Wimbledon in 2022 — the 27-year-old bookended a outstanding 12 months with main trophies.
“I really feel like this event was simply type of extra disturbing as a result of I used to be taking part in for No. 1, after which, in fact, this harm,” Rybakina stated. “Every single day was type of a problem, however I felt like in these conditions I used to be extra calm than when related issues had been occurring earlier than.
“All the things went my method,” Rybakina stated. “I’m shocked.”
