Elena RYBAKINA successful in first Adelaide International outing, reaches Quarter-Finals

Elena Rybakina was utterly rampant in Brisbane last week not dropping a set and many thought she was all set for a week off, but she has opened her Adelaide International campaign with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Cristina Bucsa.

Given her top billing, it has seen her already claim a spot in the Quarter-Finals with only four games needed for her to accomplish the Brisbane and Adelaide double.

It wasn’t as emphatic for the returning World No.3 as last week where she barely dropped a game. But it wasn’t expected to be given a tournament win which made many wonder why she didn’t go straight to Melbourne.

After nearly surrendering her serve in the opening game, she had no further chances to hit back herself until the end of the set with an emphatic break to make it 5-3 before closing it out on her serve.

Bucsa lost her serve in the first game of the opening set, but hit back to make it 3-3. It went with serve until 5-5 which saw Rybakina go one away and serve for the win.

After tasting break point again, she got over the line narrowly on advantage summing up a close shave for Rybakina. Alexandrova or Samsonova await.