Elena Rybakina took a lighthearted detour into Winter Olympic talk after a gritty night win at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. The Australian Open champion reached the quarterfinals in Doha by defeating reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in three close sets under the lights, and reporters asked which winter sport she might try.

ELENA RYBAKINA: Maybe skiing because I never actually did it. I know how to ski on the flat, but not the other way. So, that would be interesting to try. I did ice skating when I was young, but I’m too tall for this sport, for sure!

The often-introverted Rybakina played along with the question, acknowledging a curiosity about skiing while ruling out a return to ice skating. Standing well over six feet, she would clearly face challenges in a sport built around smaller stature and low spinning jumps. She quipped that slopes would likely suit her better than a triple salchow.

Still, the exchange was a moment of levity amid serious business on court. The Kazakh advanced into the last eight in Doha and will carry the momentum of a tough three-set victory into the next round. For now, Rybakina appears intent on continuing the career that produced the Australian Open title and the additional Grand Slam success already on her résumé.

Between a growing collection of major trophies and steady tour form, a Winter Olympic switch seems unlikely. The conversation did, however, reveal a player willing to joke about her limits and interests off the tennis court, even as she prepares for the next match at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open.

Elina Svitolina has settled into a new rhythm in 2026, balancing family life with renewed ambition on court. The world No. 9 prepared for her Qatar TotalEnergies Open opener by “switching off completely,” spending the morning with daughter Skaï and then beating countrywoman Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.

Hers is a notable comeback since returning from maternity leave in 2023. Once a Top 3 player and frequent Grand Slam hopeful, Svitolina has reshaped expectations while remaining a serious threat at the biggest events. She described the shift in perspective plainly: “I think after giving birth and having different perspectives, I accepted this idea that I am ok to live my life after tennis and not having won a Grand Slam. I’ve still had a very solid career on my shoulders and I did my very best. If it happens at the end of my career, ok, amazing. But if not, it’s also an amazing career. I just have to accept it and after all, it’s not only about tennis at the end of the day.”

The Olympic bronze medalist also carries the weight of national representation. After a difficult Billie Jean King Cup campaign last fall she said, “I almost felt like I let down my country, my team, everybody.” She regrouped during an extended off-season at home with Skaï and returned with momentum, collecting her 19th career WTA title and riding a 10-match winning streak into her first Australian Open semifinal, clinching that spot with a win over Coco Gauff.

Svitolina has become a mentor to younger compatriots, noting of Oleksandra Oliynykova: “Our lockers were actually next to each other, so I saw her quite a bit.” She has also taken a broader view beyond tennis, planning a tennis academy and a padel club to expand sports opportunities in Ukraine. “You’re actually the first to know,” she said with a laugh.

Unburdened by past pressure and working with a sports psychologist, Svitolina senses opportunity. “I feel like I have a chance,” she said. “I feel like everybody who plays a main draw has a chance, whether it’s just a little one or you’re a big favorite. We’ve seen so many surprise finalists and winners, and players who really play well for two weeks who surprise even themselves.

“Of course, I see how, from experiencing all these matches over the years, I feel like a more solid player. I feel like my game really improved and I can really win matches and challenge big players. When I’m fit, when I’m mentally good, I can have a chance. So, I do believe in this, and then whatever comes, comes.”

Nike’s design division, Nike Atelier, collaborated with Jannik Sinner to produce a one-of-one performance outfit that nods to his alpine roots during the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Raised near the Dolomites, Sinner was a national champion in giant slalom before focusing on tennis, and the bespoke collection was intended to reflect that background.

The custom set included a bespoke jacket, an insulated vest featuring adaptive A.I.R. technology, tailored pants and matching footwear. Sinner wore the pieces for one-on-one interviews with global fashion media in Milan alongside Nike Chief Design Officer Martin Lotti and at a special event marking the relaunch of All Conditions Gear, known as ACG.

“For me, it’s very important to always have a small sign of where I’m from,” the ATP’s world No. 2 said via the Nike website.

The sculptural, winter-ready silhouette emphasizes deep pleats and a boxy cocoon shape, and it served as a focal point for Nike’s presence at the Games. Nike is not an official Winter Olympics partner, but the brand maintained a visible presence in Milan and Cortina through pop-up activations. Those included a surprise appearance when Sinner punched tickets aboard the “ACG Express” at Milan’s Centrale station while wearing pieces from his custom collection.

Made to Sinner’s exact specifications by Nike Atelier, the outfit was crafted by Senior Design Director Raffaella Barbey in collaboration with Lotti and a multidisciplinary team. Barbey conducted fittings with Sinner in Melbourne during his Australian Open run and refined the garments through multiple rounds of feedback and iteration.

“When a brand invests this much thought and energy into a single moment, it shows they really care about making the athlete feel special. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I love being with Nike—they make you feel important.”

“This experience felt very different from work I’ve done with other brands,” Sinner says. “I was more involved in the process. There were a lot of conversations about what could be better, what wasn’t right, what worked well. In the end, we came out with an incredible result.”

World No. 2 Sinner opened the year with a run to the semifinals at the Australian Open, where he had been the two-time defending champion, before falling to a resurgent Novak Djokovic in five sets.