Rybakina d. Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-3 in Montreal It’s been over a year since Elena won her Wimbledon title. I am still in awe of how calm & composed she is every single time she plays. Grace & focus… The Elena trademark. 🇰🇿🩵🇰🇿
Rybakina Continues Strong Run, Knocks Out Stephens to Reach Quarterfinals at National Bank Open
WTAFriday, 11 August 2023 at 05:46
Elena Rybakina defeated Sloane Stephens in two sets by 6-3, 6-3 to secure a place among the top eight at the National Bank Open Montreal.
Rybakina began this week her first tournament since Wimbledon, where she couldn't defend her title and fell in the quarterfinals against Ons Jabeur.
As the third seed, she had a bye and advanced directly to the second round, where she faced American Jennifer Brady, who recently returned to the WTA tour after two years and put up a great fight. However, Rybakina ultimately emerged victorious in the match, winning 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-3.
Stephens defeated Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in the first round and was set to face former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round. Unfortunately, Azarenka had to withdraw minutes before the match due to an injury.
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The Kazakh secured the first break of the match in just the second game, but Stephens immediately responded with a break. Despite Stephens' strong start and some winners, Rybakina managed to secure another break in the sixth game, which proved decisive in winning the set 6-3.
Both players had a shaky start in the second set, with both losing their serves. Stephens gained confidence and kept the match even until 3-3, but an erratic service game allowed Rybakina to break to love, which mentally took Stephens out of the match.
Another break at 5-3 allowed Rybakina to reach another quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event, for the first time in Canada.
Despite the outcome, Rybakina had only a 49% first serve percentage, but she won 71% of those points and 60% on second serve. Stephens managed a 57% first serve percentage, but her performance was not as strong as her opponent's, winning 59% on first serve and only 36% of points on the second serve.
In the quarterfinals, Rybakina will face Russian 10th seed Daria Kasatkina, who is in good form with comfortable wins over Elise Mertens, Anna Blinkova, and Marie Bouzkova.
Rybakina and Kasatkina have faced each other three times, with two victories for the Russian and one for the former Wimbledon champion. Their last encounter was at the 2022 Stanford Open, Rybakina's first match as a Grand Slam champion, but Kasatkina turned the match around to win 1-6, 6-2, 6-0.
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