Rybakina left modesty aside! How she outclassed Swiatek at Indian Wells

Elena Rybakina tends to become a nightmare for Iga Swiatek, the world number one and the player who has authoritatively dominated women’s tennis for a year. After defeating the Pole in an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates at the end of 2022 and then also knocking her out of the Australian Open, Rybakina handed her a stinging defeat in the semi-finals at Indian Wells.

Khazaha prevailed 6-2, 6-2, after only one hour and 17 minutes of play, and even if Swiatek also blamed medical problems, Rybakina’s tennis was classy. In her post-match press conference, the 2022 Wimbledon champion admitted she had played her best possible game and pointed out that her style was visibly bothering Swiatek.

Elena Rybakina: “I was at the highest level of my career”

Rybakina believes that when her game works like it did against Iga, she is nearly impossible to beat. However, the athlete representing Khazakstan is aware that there will be days when the same will not happen and she will have to find resources to overcome her opponents without her A-game.

“My ability to take the initiative and press every shot is something that prevents Iga from developing her tennis. Today I was at the highest level of my career and when a player like me is inspired and hits all the balls like that, it’s very difficult to play against me. I know I won’t feel like that every match, so I have to keep working to be able to beat the best players on days when I’m not at my best. It is certain that I have improved a lot physically and I have much better mobility than I had in the past, which is decisive in my tennis.” Rybakina said, as quoted by puntodebreak.com.

On Sunday evening, Elena Rybakina will fight for the Indian Wells trophy against Aryna Sabalenka, the most in-form player on the circuit and the one who beat her in the Australian Open final. If Rybakina leads Iga Swiatek 3-1 in head-to-head duels, against Sabalenka she has not won any of the 5 meetings so far, although she has taken a set in each of them. The course at Indian Wells has already brought Rybakina up two places in the WTA ranking, up to the 8th place. If she wins the title, the 23-year-old athlete will move up to the 7th position in the world ranking.