Elena Rybakina is the 2022 Wimbledon champion. Yet, that victory was somewhat shrouded in controversy. Nevertheless, Rybakina has not let that distract her as no one can take that title away from her. She continues to quietly do her thing. At the 2023 Australian Open, she lost a three-set battle in the final, after defeating the number one ranked player, Iga Swiatek in the round of sixteen.
Embed from Getty ImagesElena Rybakina Has Iga Swiatek’s Number
Currently ranked number ten, Elena Rybakina is finding her form as a top ten player. Will she be as consistent a player as Swiatek has been? We will have to wait and see, for despite this loss, the Polish player has been a fairly dominant and consistent number one player. In a time when there is no consistency from the players, Swiatek has been very consistent. That said, the Kazakh seems to have found the secret to beating the top ranked player. Rybakina got a much easier 6-2, 6-2 victory this time around.
Embed from Getty ImagesElena Rybakina To Battle Aryna Sabalenka In Final
Rybakina was finally rewarded in January of this year when she cracked the top ten barrier, becoming the tenth ranked player. This is a WTA1000 event; thus, expect Elena Rybakina to climb up the rankings following this tournament. She is hoping to take home the title; however, standing in her path is the number two ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka. The Kazakh has not been able to defeat the Belarusian in four previous attempts. Of note, all four matches have gone to three sets.
Will Rybakina Finally Get A Win Over Sabalenka?
It is not that she does not know how to take a set from Sabalenka. Rybakina struggles to maintain her level against the power of the Belarusian. What can she do this time around to upend her opponent? She can move her opponent and change up the rhythm of her game. Neither player is a great mover, so take the ball earlier and perhaps try some lobs and drop shots. I think Rybakina is playing with more confidence, so I expect this to be a great match. May the best player win.
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