Rybakina suffered from illnesses and injuries all year long, as she withdrew from tournaments after a string of good form. He also had issues with his coaching, which he quickly dismissed.

But this year he confirmed the problems that plagued him by opening up a mysterious catalog of problems, including insomnia, allergies and back injuries.

“Yes, this year I had a lot of ups and downs, starting with sleep problems, insomnia, whatever it was. Then allergies, then I came back. When you have a rhythm like that, it’s not easy to stop. But once I got used to it, I got used to it. I can say that it’s really nice to get some rest,” he said. Elena Rybakina.

“Again, it’s not easy to start after this break. But I’m happy with the work we’ve done in the last two weeks. Of course, I’m not at 100%. Yes, I’m just looking forward and I’m happy that I’m healthy now and started playing,” he added.

But he also doesn’t put too much pressure on himself as a result of admitting he won’t be 100% yet and doesn’t expect it to be.

“The level is definitely not at the best level. Actually, I came without too many expectations. I want to have fun. I want to see where I am, where my level is when playing against the best players,” he said.

“Yes, I have no expectations. Just fight, have fun. The most important thing for me is to stay healthy, yes, be ready for pre-season and have a fresh start for next year,” he added.