Elena Rybakina not putting 'too much pressure' on herself ahead of Sabalenka showdown

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Rybakina[/a] rallied to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/sabalenka-a-vyhksgUB/?mid=4zyfwf9s"]3-6, 6-4, ‌6-4[/a] in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday to earn a title ‌clash with defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] and take a step ‌towards her third Grand Slam crown.[/p][p]The pair have played two previous Grand Slam finals, with Belarusian Sabalenka defeating Rybakina in the 2023 Australian ‌Open decider before the Kazakh levelled the ⁠score at Melbourne Park ‌in January.[/p][p]"[b]It's an important match, and since it's a final, I ​feel like it doesn't matter who's on the other side[/b]," said Rybakina, who will take over as world ​number one from Sabalenka on Monday.[/p][embed guid="a5756c7a-44d9-4974-bcdb-7ff37529f7b0" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp98Ok5E_5k" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, because we're very close ⁠in the rankings. Even ​if something goes wrong in the final, I'll still have other opportunities and other tournaments until the end of the year[/b].[/p][p]"[b]We push each other when we play these matches, and ‌you can clearly see on what you need to work more. I think that's great that you play against someone who pushes you to the limit[/b]."[/p][p]Rybakina credited her team for helping her maintain her strong form this season after her Australian Open triumph.[/p][p]"[b]It definitely helps. There's been a lot going on in the previous year outside of the court[/b]," the 27-year-old said.[/p][embed guid="40aa91ae-cccf-407c-9d29-a15f393b738b" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K3JIYrui54&t=9s" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]I think now all of my focus is ‌on tennis. I can't always perform at my best, there's ​always ups and downs, but I think we've been ‌doing a very good job, right decisions in certain situations, because every day is a challenge[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I'm not getting younger, and physically always some things come up. So just all things put together and also experience for the ⁠past years on tour ⁠have led to these ‌kinds of results[/b]."[/p]