Elena
Rybakina swept past world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and will have a rematch of the
Australian Open final against Aryna Sabalenka in search of the new champion of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells.
Swiatek is
usually the favorite in every match she plays, not only because she is the
world No. 1, but also because of the results she usually obtains, conceding
very few games and obtaining bagels against a good part of her opponents. This
time, it was the Polish player who suffered a heavy defeat.
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Although
Swiatek was the favorite, Rybakina is one of the few players who has shown that
she can rival the Polish player. In fact, the Kazakh had defeated the 3-time
Grand Slam champion in their last encounter in the fourth round of the 2023
Australian Open.
The former
Wimbledon champion played an almost perfect match and only conceded 3 games to
the 21-year-old player. Rybakina played a game plan looking to play short
points and always looking to play the cross-court forehand to put pressure on
Swiatek, who made many more errors than usual. The first set only took 36
minutes for the world No. 10, who after a double fault from her opponent,
closed the set 6-2.
The second
set was even more dominant for the Kazakh. She quickly got the breaks and went
up 5-0. Despite a slight recovery from Swiatek by getting her first break of
the match, the superiority of the 23-year-old player was too wide to overcome.
With the same result as in the previous set, Rybakina reached the first Masters
1000 final of her career by defeating world No. 1 Swiatek 6-2, 6-2.
In the
final, Aryna Sabalenka awaits, who earlier had defeated Greek Maria Sakkari
also with wide superiority (6-2, 6-3). This repeats the 2023 Australian Open
final, which on that occasion had the Belarusian as champion.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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