Elena Rybakina Topples Injured Swiatek, Faces Sabalenka For Indian Wells Title - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

WTA

Elena Rybakina Topples Injured Swiatek, Faces Sabalenka For Indian Wells Title

Published

on

image via https://twitter.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/

Elena Rybakina is through to her first-ever final of a WTA 1000 event after producing a dominant display against top seed Iga Swiatek at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. 

The world No.10 dropped just four games as she stormed to an emphatic 6-2, 6-2, win over the three-time Grand Slam champion in under 80 minutes. Overall Rybakina dropped just 37 points against Swiatek which is the fewest a player has dropped against the world No.1 since Garbine Mugurza (35) at the 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships. In her latest match, the Kazakh won 82% of her first service points and converted all five of her break point opportunities. 

“Today was a really great match for me because I played unbelievable — I would say one of the best matches I played this year. Hopefully I can keep the level for Sunday,” Rybakina said during her press conference. 

It is the second time this season that the 23-year-old has beaten Swiatek after also prevailing in their clash at the Australian Open in January. She is only the third player to have defeated the Pole multiple times within the same year at WTA events. The first two were Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur who did so in 2021. She is also only the second player in history to have defeated the current world No.1 at both the Australian Open and Indian Wells within the same year.

Asked by a reporter about what it is in her game that gives Swiatek so much difficulty on the court, Rybakina says it is down to her aggressive shotmaking. Swiatek has won 16 out of 20 matches played so far in 2023. 

“I think just my aggressive style of the game,” she said. “Big serves…. I think that just overall some players it’s more difficult to play against. With Iga, she’s tough — really tough opponent. But when I play [this well] and everything goes in…because today some moments I played [at] my highest level…there are moments where you feel, ‘I can beat anyone if I always play like this.’
“It’s the goal, but you never feel amazing and perfect every match. I think today it was just really good from me.”

Whilst there is no dispute about the level of Rybakina’s current form, it was later revealed that Swiatek is currently dealing with a rib injury which is threatening to rule her out of next week’s Miami Open where she is the defending champion. She is set to undergo a medical assessment in the coming days before a final decision is made. 

“Honestly I feel like it’s still more me and kind of my mistakes,” Swiatek commented on her latest performance. “I’m also not feeling 100 percent physically. I have a little discomfort in my rib, and we’re going to consult with the medical team. For sure I’m gonna use these days off before Miami…. Actually, I have one more day.”

Rybakina will play Aryna Sabalenka in the title match at Indian Wells on Sunday in what will be a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final which the Belarussian won in three sets. Sabalenka booked her place in the final by defeating Sakkari 6-2, 6-3, in what was her 24th win over a top 10 player since 2018. The in-form Sabalenka has only suffered one loss in 18 matches played so far this season. 

“I’m just super happy with another final and super happy with the win against Maria,” said Sabalenka, who is defending just 20 ranking points at the tournament. “She’s such a great fighter and it’s always tough matches against her.”

In their head-to-head, Rybakina has never beaten Sabalenka. Overall they have locked horns four times with every match going to three sets. 

WTA

Coco Gauff And Aryna Sabalenka Struggle Through In Indian Wells Openers

The duo were pushed to three sets in their first matches played at this year’s WTA 1000 event.

Published

on

Coco Gauff admits she didn’t play her best tennis at Indian Wells on Saturday after coming through a rollercoaster three-set battle. 

The world No.3 needed more than two hours to oust France’s Clara Burel 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Gauff found herself trailing multiple times during the match. After losing the opening set, the reigning US Open champion then had to battle back from a 0-4 deficit in the decider. Capitalising on some tentative hitting from Burel who was bidding to record the biggest win of her career. 

Despite prevailing, it was a far from vintage performance from Gauff who hit six double faults and 14 unforced errors during the first set alone. She also struggled behind her second serve, winning just 12 out of 36 points played. 

“I think for me it’s just getting through that match definitely meant a lot,” Gauff said. “Could have easily thrown in the towel. But honestly, I was just telling myself, like, win or lose, I don’t want to have any regrets on the court. I want to be like I gave myself the best opportunity to win, and I did that.
“Am I proud of how I played? Not really, to be honest. But the fight, I am proud of. I am eager to improve. I think it wasn’t my best tennis at all. I think I just have a lot of improvement that I can do to get better.”

The 19-year-old has become the first teenager in the last 15 years to have won 50 or more matches at WTA 1000 events. She will next play Lucia Bonzetti.

“That’s pretty cool,” Gauff commented on her latest milestone. “I feel like I have a lot of stats and stuff like that. Hopefully I can close this chapter of my life off good. I’m really happy with how my teenage years went.” 

Sabalenka avoids major upset 

Aryna Sabalenka was another player to experience trouble during their opening match after outlasting Peyton Sterns 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-6 (8), in a clash that lasted almost three hours. The world No.2 was on the verge of losing and had to save four match points when down 4-5 in the final set. Despite that blip, she held her nerve to break back before prevailing in a tightly contested tiebreaker. 

“Wow, I think I was right when I see this tattoo of a tiger and I was fighting today like a tiger,” said Sabalenka. “It’s just crazy what happened. She’s an unbelievable player.
“She played crazy tennis. She said at the net, ‘I had you,’ so she’s right. I was probably a little bit lucky to get this win. Super happy to get through this.”
“I didn’t play my best tennis and she was crushing it like crazy. I was just trying to stay in the game and keep fighting for every point. But this match definitely goes into the book of craziest matches and the best matches of my career.”

Sabalenka is hoping to go one step better in Indian Wells than 12 months ago when she reached the final before losing to Elena Rybakina, who has pulled out of the tournament due to gastrointestinal issues. 

Awaiting the Belrussian in the next round will be Emma Raducanu in what will be the first meeting on the Tour. 

Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka posted a convincing 7-5, 6-3, win over world No.15 Luidmila Samsonova. It is the first time she has beaten a top 20 player since returning to competitive tennis following the birth of her child. 

Continue Reading

WTA

Caroline Wozniacki Expresses Delight After Vekic Win, Ons Jabeur Crashes Out

Caroline Wozniacki earned a big win over Donna Vekic at Indian Wells while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

Published

on

(@WeAreTennis - Twitter)

Caroline Wozniacki is into the third round at Indian Wells after toppling Donna Vekic 7-6(3) 6-3 while Ons Jabeur crashed out.

The former Australian Open champion produced a resilient and clinical display to knock out Vekic in straight sets.

It was a clinical display on return as Wozniacki neutralized the Croatian’s serve to break on three occasions to reach the third round.

Speaking after the match Wozniacki described Indian Wells as one of the best tournaments in the world and was happy with the performance, “Donna is a great competitor, great player. I thought we both played really well today. Just happy to be through this one,” the 33 year-old told the WTA website.

“I’m here because I love to be here. You know, I’m lucky enough that I have been given some wildcards so I’m able to play these big tournaments and compete against the best players in the world.”

Wozniacki will now face Katie Volynets in the third round after the American stunned sixth seed Ons Jabeur.

The world number 131 recorded the biggest victory of her career against the out-of-sorts Tunisian in a 6-4 6-4 win.

In an interview after the match Volynets described how much it meant to her to beat one of her idols, “I’m so honored to have a wild card here and I’m so honored to play Ons,” the wildcard told the WTA website.

“I’ve been watching her on TV for years so it’s just such an honor to play here on this court against such a wonderful player. I’m definitely pleased with how I was able to execute today.

“I think it was very close the entire time. She was throwing in some amazing drop shots and slices and injecting some pace. I’m glad I was able to overcome that.”

The winner of Wozniacki and Volynets will play the winner of Veronika Kudermetova against Angelique Kerber.

Continue Reading

WTA

Simona Halep To Make Tennis Return In Miami

Simona Halep has a wildcard into the Miami Open.

Published

on

(@WeAreTennis - Twitter)

Simona Halep will make her return to tennis in Miami after receiving a wildcard for the tournament.

The Romanian hasn’t played competitively for 19 months with her last appearance being a first round defeat to Daria Snigur at the 2022 US Open.

After her appearance in New York, Halep would be banned for four years from competitive tennis after failing a doping test.

A lengthy appeal process followed from Halep which eventually saw her ban reduced by the Court Of Arbitration For Sport to nine months, therefore allowing her to resume competitive tennis with immediate effect.

It hasn’t taken long for Halep to make her next step as the Romanian announced on Instagram that she has received a wildcard for the Miami Open.

It will be interesting to see what shape Halep is in as it would have made more logical sense for the former Roland Garros Champion to begin her comeback on clay.

The 32 year-old has made nine appearances in Miami and her best performance has been reaching the semi-finals in 2015 and 2019.

Time will tell whether Halep can repeat her past success with the Miami Open starting on the 19th of March.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending