Elena Rybakina is through to the final in Brisbane without dropping a set all week! 6-3, 6-2 win over Nosková as she now awaits the winner of Azarenka/Sabalenka.
MATCH REPORT | 2024 Brisbane International: Elena Rybakina Shines Bright: Overpowers Linda Noskova to Secure First Final of the Season
WTASaturday, 06 January 2024 at 05:32
Elena
Rybakina advanced to the final of the 2024 Brisbane International after a
convincing victory over the young Linda Noskova, with a score of 6-3, 6-2,
earning her a spot in her first final of the year. The Kazakh player continues
her good form just a week before the Australian Open, where she defends her
runner-up position from 2023, losing to Elena Rybakina, and will compete for
the title on Saturday in her last match before the first Grand Slam of the
year.
Linda Noskova
reached the semifinals of the tournament with a strong start and notable
victories along the way, including against the 10th seed Sorana Cirstea (No.
35) in the second round, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and the 16-year-old Mirra
Andreeva (No. 52) in a battle of teenagers in the quarterfinals, securing a
7-5, 6-3 win.
On
Rybakina's side, she only dropped seven games on her way to the semifinals, not
conceding any breaks to her opponents. She first defeated the Australian Olivia
Gadecki (No. 124) with a score of 6-4, 6-1. In the second round, her victim was
the 13th seed Elise Mertens (No. 29), whom she beat 6-1, 6-0. She then faced
the Russian 11th seed Anastasia Potapova, who retired when Rybakina was leading
6-1.
In the
first set, Rybakina dominated from the beginning, securing a break in the first
opportunity to take a 3-0 lead. The Kazakh player faced no issues with her
service, and the lone break was enough to close the set 6-3 in 32 minutes of
the match.
The second
set showed greater parity between the players, with break points for both, but
Rybakina was better in crucial moments. The 2022 Wimbledon champion saved a
0-40 situation in the fourth game and won five consecutive games, including two
breaks that gave her an insurmountable advantage over the 19-year-old Noskova.
Rybakina
had an impressive 75% first-service accuracy, winning 80% of those points, and
54% with the second serve, well above Noskova's 55% first serve, who won 71% of
them and only 39% with the second. Rybakina dominated the match by winning 59%
of the points played and outperformed Czech Linda Noskova from the baseline,
capitalizing on her powerful forehand to close points quickly.
In the
final, Rybakina will face a clash between two former world No. 1 players:
Belarusians Aryna Sabalenka (No. 2) and Victoria Azarenka (No. 22) will seek
their first final appearance of the season. If Sabalenka wins, it will set the
stage for a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final, where the Belarusian
secured her first Grand Slam title.
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