Elena Rybakina plays great to beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 and reach the semifinals in Beijing. After losing her first four matches vs. Aryna, including the AusOpen final, Elena now gets a 2nd win -- after the first in the Indian Wells final.
Elena Rybakina overturns poor Head to Head record in convincing win over Aryna Sabalenka to reach China Open semi-finals
WTAFriday, 06 October 2023 at 15:17
Elena Rybakina is through to the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing after a very convincing win over World Number One, Aryna Sabalenka earlier this afternoon.
Rybakina produced a 7-5, 6-2 win over Sabalenka who she previously lost her first four matches too including the final of the Australian Open.
But since defeating Sabalenka at Indian Wells, she has notched up a second win today with the pressure telling on the Belarusian in key moments with double faults which have been a previous issue creeping back into the game. Liudmila Samsonova awaits Rybakina next.
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Rybakina came out firing straight out the gate with two aces to make it 1-1 before breaking Sabalenka's serve to make it 2-1. Three unforced errors from Rybakina allowed Sabalenka to tie it up and re-take the lead at 3-2.
But Rybakina managed to tie it up after a long drawn out service game. Both then exchanged flawless service holds to leave it poised at 5-5. But Rybakina finally made it count when it mattered most at 6-5 for a break before serving it out.
Set two saw the errors start to creep in off the Sabalenka serve with Rybakina at her rampant best. She did not face a single break point during the set and broke twice in a row at 3-2 up and 5-2 up including the former being to love.
From there after Sabalenka had the chance to save serve at 5-2, the race was run as Rybakina eased through her final service game with Sabalenka not winning another point in heading out.
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