Before the
start of the match, it looked like a difficult match for the representative of
Kazakhstan
Elena Rybakina, who faced the last year’s runner up Danielle
Collins for the third round at the 2023
Australian Open. But the former
Wimbledon champion started the match very focused and take the first set in
just 31’ minutes showing a great serve that Collins couldn't control.
In the
second set, the American entered renewed, but Rybakina maintained the good
level of the first set, and neither was able to break the service of his rival.
Collins managed to get her first break when the tie break seemed inevitable.
After 53’ minutes, the former Australian Open finalist forced the third set,
but the Kazakh wasn’t going to give up.
In the
third set, Rybakina quickly took the lead and went up 4-0 against a Collins
frustrated by her rival's excellent serve. After her triumph, the currently 25th
in the world said: “I started really well and Danielle raised her level in the
second set. It was really close.”
On the Kia
Arena, the 22th seed showed that the serve is probably her biggest weapon, winning 82% of the points with the
first serve, and 65% with the second. Also connected 33 winners against 22 from
the American. The winner also had 33 unforced errors, just one lessof Collins' 34. With this victory, she secures a spot in the fourth round of the
Australian Open for the first time in her career.
in the next
round she’ll have to challenge none other than the current world No. 1 Iga
Swiatek, in what will be a duel between two Grand Slam champions, although
neither have lifted the trophy in Australia. The last time they played was in
the World Tennis League last December, and Rybakina surprised the Pole, and
comfortably defeated her 6-3, 6-1.