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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- LOL.MrAndreeva10-05-2024
- My money is simply on fatigue. She's not the compact 'muscle-man'-type like perhaps Sabalenka, Swiatek or Sakkari. She's a player desperately longing for some kind of Djokovic rhythm. She should skip lots to win more majors. And the rumour I thought wasn't it Long Covid?MrAndreeva10-05-2024
- If there is some other reason, like exhaustion or self-preservation by not playing in consecutive tourneys, then simply say so. There's no shame in self preservation. Since the WTA obviously does not seriously consider a player's physical and mental stress as they schedule back-to-back majors, it's okay to adhere to such a healthy agenda and admit it. The illness thing is kind of suspect at this point; if only because of the timing pattern.
mandoist10-05-2024 - So, Elena Rybakina has again withdrawn due to illness (in Rome). Fans are concerned if this is truly a gastrointestinal issue. Why the secrecy? Is it truly an illness causing these withdrawals? It may be helpful -- even encouraging -- for others whom also suffer whatever illness is ongoing here to know what she is dealing with; and how. A form of Colitis? Ulcers? What's up? Timing has been last minute. It's a bummer all around.mandoist10-05-2024
- Tennis is ridiculous to maintain the tradition of silence. If they can play in open courts like Rome with all the noise from each court they surely could survive cheering, etc., during play (i.e., a singles match with only a 2 meter fence between them and a men's doubles -- and very loud noise from each side).mandoist10-05-2024
