Elena Rybakina has continued her rampant form during 2024 so far which has only been halted by momentary blips or illness and she is into a fifth semi-final of the season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. She defeated Jasmine Paolini in three sets.
Rybakina sealed it 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 and even in the set that she lost she looked the better play compared to the Italian who of course won Dubai in a landmark title run earlier in the season defeating Anna Kalinskaya in the final. But it is Rybakina who starts off the clay court season in rampant form. She will just hope now that illness stays away and she can really flourish at the top of the game again.
Last season, she also was in great form going into Roland Garros, but COVID paid heed to that. She could barely hit a ball on serve on the road to Wimbledon where she defended her title which was won by Marketa Vondrousova. But has also spent time on the sidelines this season with a gastrointestinal illness which kept her out of Indian Wells. She then admitted en route to losing in the final of Miami that she wasn't practicing in between and was exhausted between matches. Not playing since the hope will be now that she can take that forward.
Winning in just over two hours and 10 minutes, she will face the winner of the landmark tie of the day between Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu/ Given that Aryna Sabalenka despite getting to this point has had other issues to deal with and hasn't been at her best since Melbourne, it could be said that semi-final could be between the two best in the world right now. She has also overtaken Daria Kasatkina for most wins at WTA 500 or above this season as a result of reaching this point of the tournament, form that could have been even better outside of illness.
#4 Elena Rybakina gets a very good clay win over #14 Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the semifinals in Stuttgart for the first time! Looked like the best player all match, even in the set that she lost... Starting the clay season in good form -- hope she stays healthy!
