Elena Rybakina was in the spotlight just two days after clinching her third Grand Slam title at the US Open, where she also became the World No. 1. As the first player to qualify for the WTA Finals at Indian Wells, Rybakina visited the "Today" show on NBC and "CBS Mornings" to discuss her victory.
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Holding both the US Open trophy and the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz World No. 1 trophy, Rybakina talked about her final match against Aryna Sabalenka. She shared insights into managing nerves during the match, saying, "There's so many thoughts coming through the head... I'm sometimes trying to zone out and just focus on each movement I have to do."
Rybakina demonstrated remarkable composure during her last three matches in New York, coming from a set down to defeat Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, which secured her the No. 1 ranking. She also rallied from behind to beat Coco Gauff, before facing Sabalenka in a three-set final, again dropping the second set before winning the decider.
Looking ahead, Rybakina has several tournaments remaining this season, including the Asian Swing and the WTA Finals, where she hopes to defend her title. With major wins at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, she expressed her ambition for a career Grand Slam, stating it would "mean everything to me."
Rybakina's next tournament is the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, starting on September 30.