Rybakina advances to next round at Indian Wells after tough win over Kenin

Elena Rybakina achieved an important victory against Sofia Kenin and advanced to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells.

Rybakina’s last appearance was at Dubai Duty Free Open in February, but a lower-back injury forced her to withdraw before the round of 16 match she was supposed to play with Coco Gauff. The Kazakh decided to take precautions to arrive in good shape for the "sunshine double" that began with Indian Wells. In her seeded position, she had a bye in the first round. Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin began the first round with another Grand Slam champion, her compatriot Sloane Stephens. Kenin dominated the match and easily won in two sets against Stephens.

Rybakina was the first to get a break in the eighth game of the first set to take a 5-3 lead on the scoreboard and with her serve in her favor, but Kenin fought back to break her. Both players held their serve until a tense tie-break, where the former Wimbledon champion prevailed 7-6(6). The American took the lead in the second set and was up 4-1, but Rybakina won three games in a row to tie it up, and the match remained even until they reached another tie-break.

The Kazakh had absolute control in the tie-break and finished the match 7-6(6), 7-6(5), who ends with a double fault of the American. Despite the defeat, Sofia Kenin is starting to show some of the level that led her to shine on the circuit in 2019 and 2020. Rybakina will play against the winner of the Spanish duel between Nuria Parrizas-Diaz or the 21st seed Paula Badosa.