What’s a loss that sticks with you?
Obviously the Australian and US Open finals—in Australia [against Elena Rybakina], I had a break in the third set and felt like everything was going my way, but then it slipped, so I was really, really disappointed with that one. I should have won that one, but I didn’t. The US Open, not so much—[Rybakina] played really incredibly, and I didn’t.
When you walk out onto the court for a match, you’ve got headphones on. What are you listening to?
Sometimes nothing—sometimes I just like to block out the noise and stay in my thoughts. Sometimes I just put on some melodies that make me feel fired up. It’s always different—it just depends on my mood. I have a lot of favorite artists. I like Beyoncé. I like Rihanna. I like Dua Lipa, Tate McRae, Teddy Swims, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Britney Spears. I just need to rotate.
If you didn’t play any sport, what would you do for a career?
I think boxing or modeling—they’re so different, but both are things that I love.
Is there a sport other than tennis that you watch or play?
In Dubai—it’s actually crazy to say—but for the first time in my life I went to watch a UFC fight, and I became obsessed. I’m watching lots of fights now, and my entire algorithm is UFC and fighters. I became a huge fan of Khabib [Nurmagomedov, the undefeated UFC legend]. So, yeah, I’m crazy about UFC. I also like ice hockey, and I like to watch basketball and Formula One. I’d like to watch more MotoGP, but I cannot watch it because I’m like, How do you guys do that? It’s so dangerous. I feel so tight watching them race—I’m so scared for them.
I know that you like to get dressed up and that you’re no stranger to going big. You like a big heel, yeah?
Well, I love the way my body looks. But walking, as an athlete? It’s like a workout for me. I had to walk Vogue World in Milan, and I was just dying, because I’m not used to walking in high heels. But still, that was the best experience of my life.
Elena Rybakina, 27, Kazakhstan
Your best win this year on the tour?
Probably the US Open. I won the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, but the US Open just felt a little bit bigger this year, and New York is such a special city.
