World No. 4 Elena Rybakina had to face yet another heartbreak at the Miami Open as the Kazakhstan tennis ace was defeated in the 2024 Miami Open final. Rybakina lost to America’s Danielle Collins in straight sets. It was a second consecutive defeat in a final for the Kazakh ace and Rybakina admitted that it is not easy to lose in the final.
After her defeat at the hands of Collins, the World No. 4 was asked about how it feels to lose twice in the final. Rybakina was asked if this loss was in any way different from last year when the Kazakh ace was on a high coming into the tournament.
To this, Rybakina replied that while both losses stung her, she is not disappointed much about this year considering she was not in her best form. She said that she had more expectations last year considering the fact that she had won the Indian Wells Open title.
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. Elena Rybakina said about her loss at the 2023 Miami Open.
The World No. 4 then talked about this year’s loss and said that it was a different situation. Rybakina said that she was happy about reaching the final.
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 Elena Rybakina said about 2024 Miami Open.
Elena Rybakina looking forward to the clay season
After a bumpy ride in the first hardcourt season, Elena Rybakina says she is now focused on the clay season. The Kazakhstan ace who made it to two finals and won two titles in the hardcourt season evaluated her first three months of the season and concluded that it was a successful campaign.
Rybakina rued the illness that kept her out of a couple of tournaments including the Indian Wells Open but she was satisfied with whatever she achieved in the first hardcourt season.
I think it was successful three months. Not easy, for sure, with some illness in between. Yeah, I think in the end it's successful, a lot of matches I played, a lot of wins. So can't complain. Looking forward for clay. Elena Rybakina said.
Notably, while Rybakina started the season with a title-winning performance in Brisbane, the Kazakh ace suffered two early exits right after that. While she was knocked out in the third round at the Adelaide International, Rybakina bowed out of the Australian Open after losing to Anna Blinkova in the second round.
The 24-year-old, however, made a comeback in Abu Dhabi, going all the way to win the title. Rybakina also reached the final in Doha where she lost to Iga Swiatek. The Kazakh had to then pull out of the Dubai Tennis Championships midway through the tournament due to a gastric illness. Further, she missed the Indian Wells Open.
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