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.
Rybakina advances after bageled Wozniacki
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.
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Rybakina at 2023 Wimbledon
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.