Kazakhstan’s tennis star
Elena Rybakina has once again
showcased her skills and mental toughness in the ongoing China Open.
The world number five defeated Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in
the round of 16 clash after coming back from a set down with a score of 2-6,
6-4, 6-1.
Interestingly, before this year, Rybakina had a tough
time after losing the first set as she had a record of 15-2.
But this year, Rybakina has won on five occasions after
losing the first set and lost just twice which shows that mentally, she has
become a lot tougher as compared to how she was in the previous years.
The 24-year-old is now set to face off the winner of the
match between the current world number one Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka and Italy’s
Jasmine Paolini.
Rybakina will be hoping to go all the way and lift the title
in this tournament, largely because of having a rather below-par time in the
big events this year.
The Moscow-born started the year brightly as she lost the
final of the Australian Open to Sabalenka with a score of 4–6, 6–3, 6–4.
However, since, Rybakina
found it hard to replicate the success and managed to qualify for the quarterfinal
or beyond in the other three Grand Slams.
