Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Elena Rybakina finally puts an end to her losing streak against Iga Swiatek. The 26-year-old Kazakh stunned Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in an hour, 37-minute encounter, booking her first-ever spot in the WTA Finals semifinal. After losing the opening set, Rybakina regrouped herself brilliantly and from there on went on to winning 12 of the next 13 games in a dominant turnaround.
Swiatek had started strong, breaking early and controlling the rallies from the baseline but once Rybakina found her rhythm the momentum completely shifted. The Kazakh, who leads the WTA in total aces this season with 480, began to hit her spots with precision. On the other hand, the World No. 2 struggled to maintain her first-serve efficiency.
Rybakina stormed through the second set after a double break of serve and from there on she carried that momentum straight into the deciding set. After rallying from 40-15 down to break Swiatek in the opening game of the third, there was no turning back. Swiatek’s game fell apart under pressure, producing 42 unforced errors compared to just 12 winners.
Rybakina sealed her statement win with a second-serve ace ending a 19-month wait for victory over the Polish star. The result also made Swiatek the first player since 2013 to lose three matches in a single season by a 6-0 scoreline in the deciding set.
After the match, Rybakina said, “I was a bit slow at the start, but I pushed myself to step in more and serve better. I’m really happy with how I stayed composed and kept improving each point.”
In another fixture, Amanda Anisimova stunned Madison Keys in a three-set thriller. The American battled back from a set and a break to stun her counterpart 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Anisimova is appearing in her first WTA Finals, but her roar of frustration after going 2-0 down in the second set as she recovered from them quickly and went on to win the next 12 games.
Tonight’s schedule features a rematch of the 2024 US Open singles final between World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, while Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini will face each other for the seventh time in their careers.
