Insolite - Rybakina gently reframes a journalist: "The questions are always the same".

Elena Rybakina has made a successful debut at Roland-Garros. Having made an excellent start to the 2024 season (title in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart, finalist in Doha and Miami, semi-finalist in Madrid), she has made herself perfectly at home. Still the only player to have beaten Swiatek on ochre this season, the Kazakh made it through the first round with great authority (6-2, 6-3 win over Minnen).

After missing out on the title in Rome, the world No. 4 chose to preserve her body in preparation for Roland-Garros. A choice that has clearly paid off.

At her press conference, she was once again asked about her physical state. Somewhat exhausted by the monotony of her exchanges with the press, Rybakina took the liberty of slightly reframing her interlocutor: "No, I wasn't affected by the conditions. I know how to play whatever the conditions. Physically, of course I'm much better than last year, since I had to retire. I also had the COVID, so of course I feel much better without it. The questions are always the same, so I don't know what to say. Simple questions, simple answers. So, guys, don't you have anything else?"

This Thursday, she will face an opponent still very much within her reach, namely Arantxa Rus (50th).