No trouble for Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells as she dispatches Lamens in straight sets

Elena Rybakina had no trouble in her Indian Wells debut, securing a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Suzan Lamens. The Kazakh now holds a 14-5 record this season and advances to the third round, where she will face the winner of 25th seed Katie Boulter or Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.

The Dutch player, with little experience in tournaments of this level, came into the match with momentum after defeating Czech Marie Bouzkova. However, she was overwhelmed by the power and precision of the 2022 Wimbledon champion.

Read also

Indian Wells suffers weather blow as matches suspended and cancelled

First Set

Lamens started strong with an early break, taking advantage of a couple of opportunities. However, Rybakina immediately broke back, restoring parity. The world No. 7 dominated with her serve throughout the set, though she missed a couple of break chances as Lamens managed to stay competitive.

Read also

Tournament Centre Indian Wells Open 2025: Schedule, results, Prize Money and TV Guide

At 4-3, Rybakina finally took her first break chance to establish control, closing the set 6-3. The Kazakh fired three aces and committed one double fault, while Lamens struggled with her serve, hitting one ace and five double faults. A 78% first-serve points won proved crucial for Rybakina, who remained steady on serve after the opening game.

Second Set

Rybakina carried her momentum into the second set, breaking immediately on her first opportunity. From there, both players held serve with little room for long rallies. At 3-2, Lamens had a chance to recover the break, but Rybakina held firm, maintaining her lead.

Read also

Taylor Fritz has already asked Elena Rybakina for US Open mixed doubles partnership after Eisenhower Cup win

At 5-3, Lamens served to stay in the match, but Rybakina sealed the win with another break—again on her first chance—securing victory 6-3, 6-3. Efficient under pressure, Rybakina converted 4 of 7 break points while saving 3 of 4 on her own serve. Rybakina now awaits her third-round opponent, either 25th seed Katie Boulter or Irina-Camelia Begu.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe