CNN
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Elena Rybakina defeated world No. 1 Iga Świątek in straight units on Friday to succeed in the Indian Wells remaining and proceed her electrical run of type this season.
Świątek had no reply to the highly effective groundstrokes unleashed by the Wimbledon champion because the Pole was overwhelmed 6-2 6-2 in an hour and 16 minutes.
With this victory, Rybakina grew to become the primary participant to win a number of matches in opposition to a reigning world No.1 since 2019, after she defeated the Świątek within the fourth spherical of the Australian Open earlier this 12 months.
“With Iga, she’s robust, actually robust opponent, however after I play this good and every little thing goes in – as a result of right this moment some moments I performed, I might say, on my highest degree – [these are] moments the place you may really feel, okay, I can beat anybody if I at all times play like this,” mentioned Rybakina after her win.
“But it surely’s the aim, you by no means really feel wonderful and ideal each match. I believe right this moment it was simply actually good from me.”
The world No. 10 was dominant from the beginning, breaking Świątek on the first alternative and successful the primary set in simply 36 minutes.
Rybakina then raced to a 5-0 lead within the second earlier than Świątek held and broke again to stem the tide considerably, however the Kazakh held on for victory, changing into the primary participant from her nation to succeed in a singles remaining in event historical past. Rybakina was born in Russia however has represented Kazakhstan since 2018
“In case you dropped onto the planet tonight and heard #1 is enjoying, then it’s Rybakina,” former skilled tennis participant Pam Shriver tweeted.
Świątek revealed afterwards that she was managing a rib damage and “not feeling 100% bodily,” though she nonetheless plans to play on the Miami Open subsequent week.
“Truthfully, I haven’t performed with quite a lot of accidents,” she added. “It’s a brand new scenario for me, for certain. Final time I performed with an damage, like the one event I can bear in mind is like Roland Garros 2019. So I used to be fairly younger.
“Now it’s a completely totally different degree. So I really feel like occurring that matches it’s a must to be 100% match.”
Rybakina will now face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka for the Indian Wells title in a repeat of this 12 months’s Australian Open remaining.
