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via Reuters

via Reuters

Rain delays and the frustration of the fans about the same were the highlights of the Rome Open final. But ultimately, the Kazakh star braved the conditions and emerged triumphant. Elena Rybakina has had a wonderful time this year. And the final in Rome was the icing on the cake, just before the French Open. She defeated Anhelina Kalina of Ukraine in the final. With all the bundles of trophies she is winning, she said something interesting about what she does with them.

Elena Rybakina enjoying the time of her life in Rome!

As Elena was going to fire her 200 KMPH serves, the opponent would have needed some serious iron dome skills, in the Rome Open final. Anhelina Kalinina tried to resist initially. In fact, she even put the Kazakh star on the back foot. But Elena roared back. She was leading with 6-4, 1-0 when the Ukrainian star decided to pull out, in tears. She had strapping on the left leg. This is the third win Rybakina secured due to a walkover.

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via Reuters

After the match, speaking at a press conference, Elena was asked as to what she does with the trophies. She replied that she was unable to keep track of them given her tight schedule.

“You’ve collected some beautiful trophies. What do you do with the trophies?”

The Rome Open winner had something interesting and unusual to say, “

Well, since I am never home, always on the road, I have some trophies with my parents. I mean, I don’t even know exactly where they are. Hopefully, one day when I decide where I’m going to live, where is going to be my home, I can bring everything together.”

Teary-eyed after the thigh injury, Rome Open runner-up Anhelina Kalina, has dedicated her run to the championship match to her war-torn home country Ukraine. Her home too got destroyed in the fighting.

After the match, the 47 ranked Ukrainian star had these words to say,

“I’m really sorry that I couldn’t play. I was trying to do my best.

A year so dear, for Rybakina!

Rybakina had a wonderful run on the tennis courts this year. She reached the final of the Australian Open. won the title at Indian Wells and she was the runner-up in Miami. The win at Rome makes her a top contender for the Roland Garros title. However, she will have to face some big names on the court.

⁩Read More: Here’s Why Russian-Born Wimbledon Semifinalist Elena Rybakina Changed Her Nationality to Kazakh

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After Rybakina had a wonderful day in Rome, she felt she can take this confidence to the clay courts of Roland Garros. “I can play on all the surfaces,” she said. ” It is just maybe for clay. I need to be ready more physically and maybe have a lot of preparation.”

As Rybakina is going to climb to No. 4 spot on Monday, she commented on the wonderful run she had in the past one year and how she thinks she can carry forward the momentum, “I am proud that I can maintain this level. I can see improvements on the court, physically also… I think there is a lot of room to improve”.

Is Rybakina the favorite for the Roland Garros title? Let us know in the comments.

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