Elena Rybakina crushes Caroline Wozniacki: Advances to Wimbledon second week

Elena Rybakina (No. 4) overcame Caroline Wozniacki (No. 91) with a score of 6-0, 6-1, advancing to the second week of Wimbledon for the fourth consecutive year. The Kazakh has reached at least the Round of 16 in all four of her main draw appearances, and this comfortable victory positions her as one of the favourites, or even the favourite, to win the title.

Rybakina’s season has been irregular, mainly due to injuries. She has 3 titles and an impressive 38-7 record, although she has been forced to retire or withdraw multiple times throughout the season. This time, she seems firmly on her way to a second Grand Slam title.

In the first set, Rybakina dominated her opponent. The world No. 4 capitalized on three of the five break points she had and bageled the former world No. 1. Rybakina's statistics in the set were overwhelming, with 16 winners compared to Wozniacki's 1. The set was entirely controlled by the Kazakh. Wozniacki won only 10 points throughout the set, eight of which were unforced errors by her opponent.

The Danish player managed to win only two points on her first serve (18%) and three on her second serve (43%), allowing Rybakina to clinch the 6-0 set in just 22 minutes. Once the set ended, a brief pause occurred due to rain while the Centre Court closed its roof.

Upon the players' return, it seemed the pause might have helped the former world No. 1, who managed to hold her service game for the first time. Unfortunately for Wozniacki, it was the only game she won in the match, as Rybakina resumed her dominance, excelling both on her serve and putting her opponent under pressure with her returns.

With a 68% first-serve rate, winning 79% of those points, Rybakina took control of the second set, while Wozniacki managed only a 52% first-serve rate. Once again, the Kazakh overwhelmed her opponent, with 20 winners this time, punishing her particularly with her forehand and tallying 9 aces throughout the match, 8 of them in the second set.

Rybakina secured the victory by 6-0, 6-1, achieving a 17-2 record (89%) at Wimbledon, with wins in 14 of her last 15 matches at SW19. In the fourth round, she will face the 17th seed Anna Kalinskaya, recent finalist at the Berlin Ladies Open on grass courts, who just defeated the 15th seed Ludmila Samsonova in straight sets.