CNN
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Elena Rybakina defeated world No. 1 Iga Świątek in straight units on Friday to achieve the Indian Wells remaining and proceed her electrical run of kind 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 turned 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 yr.
“With Iga, she’s robust, actually robust opponent, however once I play this good and every part 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 possibly can really feel, okay, I can beat anybody if I all the time play like this,” stated Rybakina after her win.
“But it surely’s the objective, you by no means really feel superb and ideal each match. I feel 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 achieve a singles remaining in match historical past. Rybakina was born in Russia however has represented Kazakhstan since 2018
“In the event 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 harm and “not feeling 100% bodily,” though she nonetheless plans to play on the Miami Open subsequent week.
“Actually, I haven’t performed with a variety of accidents,” she added. “It’s a brand new scenario for me, for positive. Final time I performed with an harm, like the one match I can keep in mind is like Roland Garros 2019. So I used to be fairly younger.
“Now it’s a very totally different degree. So I really feel like happening 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 yr’s Australian Open remaining.
