Rybakina targets Roland Garros

Elena Rybakina heads for the French Open confident that she can be as effective on clay as she is on the other two surfaces with her booming serve and groundstrokes after the Kazakh world No 6 won the Italian Open on Saturday.

The Moscow-born 23-yearold bagged her second title of 2023 with her Indian Wells triumph and fifth overall when Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina retired trailing 6-4 1-0. Wimbledon champion Rybakina became the sixth woman since the WTA 1000 format’s introduction in 2009 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface after Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Ash Barty. “I think with my game, I can play good on all the surfaces,” said Rybakina, who also reached the Australian Open and Miami finals this season. “It’s just maybe for clay I need to be ready more physically and have a lot of preparation which I don’t always have the time for.”

Rybakina reached the third round at Roland Garros in 2022. She hopes playing in Paris will be easier this time. “The tournament is pretty long. Hopefully I can go far. I have good memories playing there,” Rybakina said.

“Now I’ve got more matches on clay, so it’s a bit easier and there’s a bit more confidence, definitely.”

Kalinina, whose hopes of a first title were dashed by a leg injury, said Rybakina had the qualities to succeed on clay.

“She’s serving at 200km/h. She’s making winners like noone on tour ... anyone can win in Paris, but she has good chances.

“She’s an amazing player, a top player. I’m sure if she’s going to [play] like this, maybe new world No1.” The French Open starts on May 28.