First WTA 1000 Final 🔥 @LiudaSamsonova defeats Rybakina 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to advance to her very first WTA 1000 final and face off against Pegula later today. #NBO23
Samsonova’s Masterful Performance Sends Rybakina Packing, Secures Spot at Canadian Open final
WTASunday, 13 August 2023 at 21:28
Liudmila Samsonova ended Elena Rybakina's journey at the Canadian Open and sets up a final clash with Jessica Pegula.
The semifinal match was originally scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, a couple of hours after the match between Pegula and Swiatek. However, rain prevented Elena Rybakina and Ludmila Samsonova from playing. Despite waiting until the last moment, it was decided that they would play on Sunday, just hours before the final.
Rybakina reached the semifinals by overcoming a tough path, defeating Jennifer Brady, Sloane Stephens, and Daria Kasatkina. Her quarterfinal match against the Russian player was decided in a third-set tie-break, with Rybakina saving a match point against her in what was one of the best matches of the year.
Samsonova arrived in great form, registering victories against strong opponents like Katerina Siniakova, Zheng Qinwen, Aryna Sabalenka, and Belinda Bencic. Her last two matches were played with only a few hours of difference due to weather conditions that led to match suspensions.
A strong start from Rybakina allowed her to take the lead, and Samsonova only managed to win her first service game. After a 1-1 tie, Rybakina won five consecutive games, including two breaks, and took the set in just 29 minutes with a score of 6-1.
In the second set, the story completely changed. Rybakina had an erratic set, and both players secured an early break to make it 2-1 in favor of Samsonova.
The former Wimbledon champion then lost six consecutive games, allowing her opponent to win the set 6-1 and take the advantage going into the deciding set. In total, Rybakina lost four consecutive service games between the second and third sets.
Samsonova's first serve percentage improved from 50% and 30% points won in the first set to 58% accuracy and 72% points won in the second set. On the other hand, Rybakina's first serve accuracy dropped from 58% and 73% points won in the first set to only 39% accuracy and 56% points won in the second set.
With an early break, Samsonova took a 2-0 lead and managed to hold her serve for the rest of the set. Another break in her favor in the seventh game was enough to secure her victory with a convincing score of 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Samsonova will have less than two hours to recover physically and step back onto the center court to play in the tournament final against world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who surprised Iga Swiatek yesterday.
claps 0visitors 291
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Why do you even publish this TwatCaster's PATHETIC stunt for attention? There's plenty of reasons why imbeciles like him are 'talking' and people like Iga Swiatek are 'walking the walk'. Tennisuptodate should be above this tripe.
mandoist16-12-2024 - If and when Political Correctness and gullible hearts over-rule BIOLOGY, the Human world begins its already seeming decline.mandoist15-12-2024
- The new generation has arrived and these guys need to do it with the left overs.
AceOfBase13-12-2024 - Every young, inexperiend CEO has "better" ideas (and friends to hire).mandoist12-12-2024
- What a load of nonsense. Emotional stress definitely didn’t cause her wrist or ankle injuries.Lyca10-12-2024
- Taylor Fritz 🎾 – the surprising third for many. 🎄 A great Christmas tree quiz question! 🎅✨MrAndreeva10-12-2024
- Simona Halep taking the axe out 🪓😮💨MrAndreeva08-12-2024
- ITIA is literally a Secret Organization. Way past time for a neutral entity to oversee, if not guide, these Elitists within ITIA whom enjoy their ability to keep their "investigations" in a business as usual format behind closed doors!!mandoist08-12-2024
- Poor Emma has 3 problems I can see from the peanut gallery: 1. She has not shown the comittment it takes; tennis has not been her priority. 2. Her body seems to fail. Frailty is not an athlete's friend. 3. She is throwing everything at the wall to keep her sponsors.mandoist07-12-2024
- As for ITIA -- who, or what entity, oversees this untrustworthy organization?? Too many recent cases of suspensions over tests proving minimal stats at best. Neither Iga nor Simona showed even a hint at prolonged use. Sinner, we don't know because the secrecy was extreme. Now we find ITIA flat-out LIED about speaking directly with the manufacturer of the drug in question associated with Iga. Are we to believe ITIA can be trusted? Not according to the past few years of questionable corporate conduct. ITIA can no longer be trusted to fairly regulate nor investigate itself... so who or what will??mandoist06-12-2024
