Spectacular clash culminates in Rybakina's US Open exit against a formidable Cirstea
WTASaturday, 02 September 2023 at 05:55
Elena
Rybakina disappoints and is eliminated in the third round of the US Open after
falling 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 to Sorana Cirstea.
World No. 4
barely spent an hour and 24 minutes on the court to advance to the third round,
following a convincing victory over Marta Kostyuk in the first round (6-2, 6-1)
and the subsequent withdrawal of Alja Tomljanovic before the second round.
Her
opponent in this match was the 30th seed, Sorana Cirstea, who had displayed
great form at Flushing Meadows, easily advancing through the first two rounds
with wins over Kayla Day (6-2, 6-3) and Anna Kalinskaya (6-3, 6-4).
The
Romanian player had an excellent first set on her service, with a 62%
first-serve percentage and winning 94% of those points. On the other hand,
Rybakina played with only a 52% first-serve percentage and won 69% of those
points. Both players won 50% of the points with their second serve.
The first
and only break of the set came in the fourth game, in favor of Cirstea on her
third attempt. Both players continued to hold their service games, and Rybakina
couldn't trouble her opponent, failing to earn a single break point during the
set, which ended 6-3 in favor of the world No. 30.
Cirstea's
defensive strength forced Rybakina to go for the lines and play deep shots,
resulting in 14 unforced errors from Rybakina compared to just 6 winners.
In the
second set, Rybakina came out with more determination in her return,
particularly targeting Cirstea's first serve from her backhand side. In the
opening game, she secured a break on her first opportunity but couldn't hold
onto it, conceding her service in the next game.
Despite the
strong serving from the Romanian, Rybakina posed more significant challenges,
but she couldn't manage to break and squandered two set points with the score
at 6-5 and Cirstea serving.
In the
tie-break, Rybakina performed at a high level and secured two mini-breaks to
take a 4-0 lead. Although Cirstea made a comeback and leveled the score,
eventually, the Kazakh took advantage of her third set point to push the match
into the third set.
The third
set was filled with drama, with both players losing their service games early
on, but it was Cirstea who took a 4-1 lead. Just when Rybakina seemed to be
mounting a comeback, both players once again faltered on their serves due to
the tension.
Finally,
Rybakina was serving at 5-4 down but made a double fault precisely when facing
a match point against her, handing the victory to Cirstea. This marks the first
time Cirstea has reached the fourth round of the US Open in 14 previous
appearances in the main draw.
In the
fourth round, Cirstea will face Belinda Bencic, who eliminated Zhu Lin in a
tough match (7-6, 2-6, 6-3). The world No. 15 has advanced to the second week
of the US Open for the fourth time, with her best result being a semifinal
appearance in 2019, where she lost to the eventual champion, Bianca Andreescu.
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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