SM
Saturday, January 4
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Elena Rybakina to face Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells final

:Headline: Elena Rybakina to face Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells final:
Elena Rybakina sets up a reunion with Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Masters courtesy of a dominant semi-final win over Iga Swiatek.
Sports Mole

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina stormed past world number one Iga Swiatek to set up an Indian Wells Masters final with Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

The 23-year-old - who lost to Sabalenka in this year's Australian Open final - put Swiatek to the sword 6-2 6-2 in an emphatic display, taking just 75 minutes to defeat the number one seed.

In doing so, Rybakina made the final of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career, having previously only got as far as the quarter-finals in California, Wuhan and Cincinnati.

With her powerful serving doing the damage early on, Rybakina broke straight away for a 3-1 lead, and Swiatek crucially missed two break points of her own in the sixth game.

Rybakina took full advantage with another break in the eighth game to take the first set, and the writing was on the wall for Swiatek when a ruthless Rybakina won the first five games of the second set.

Swiatek won the next two games - breaking Rybakina while she was serving for the match to give herself a slice of hope - but the Kazakhstani broke once more in the eighth game to book a richly-deserved spot in the final.

Despite winning just 43% of points behind her second serve, Rybakina thoroughly dominated the number one seed with seven aces compared to Swiatek's one, as well as saving three of the four break points that she faced on the day.

"There are moments you feel, 'OK, I can beat anyone if I always play like this'. It's the goal, but you never feel amazing and perfect every match. I think today it was really good from me," BBC Sport quotes Rybakina as saying on the court.

The world number 10 now faces a reunion with Sabalenka, who was also a comfortable victor in her semi-final with Greece's Maria Sakkari, prevailing 6-2 6-3 earlier in the day.

Sabalenka and Sakkari traded three successive breaks in the first set - two for the reigning Australian Open champion, who broke again in game eight to take the first set with aplomb.

Sabalenka's service game noticeably dropped in the second set with a few double faults, but she powered through to qualify for her fifth WTA 1000 final and first at Indian Wells.

The world number two boasts a 100% success rate from her previous four matches with Rybakina, most recently winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 in this year's Australian Open final. body check tags ::

amp_article__509370 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2023-03-18 12:08:07:
html db last update - 2023-03-18 12:08:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Elena Rybakina

Share this article now:
RN
Read Next:
Australian Open day three: Nadal, Raducanu eliminated, Norrie progresses
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Elena Rybakina Aryna Sabalenka Maria Sakkari Iga Swiatek Tennis
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Australian Open day three: Nadal, Raducanu eliminated, Norrie progresses
Haaland hits brace and Savinho shines as Man City put West Ham to the sword
Czech mate: Tottenham on brink of first January signing as £12.5m deal 'imminent'

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham197842825329
10Brentford208393835327
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Arsenal targeting Bayern star as Saka replacement

1

AT

Preview: Deportiva Minera vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PD

Team News: Liverpool vs. Man Utd injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

NEW

3

TN

'Angriest I've ever been' - Is Postecoglou's Newcastle rage justified?

NEW

4

'I

Saturday's Serie A predictions including Fiorentina vs. Napoli

5

SS

Fulham reject Pereira bid! Latest transfer news and rumours today

6

FR

What's the latest on the future of Man United, Arsenal-linked Cunha?

7

WT

Can Chelsea recall Chalobah, Gilchrist after Fofana injury blow?

8

CC

Debuts and returns: Spurs-Newcastle starting lineups confirmed!

9

DA

Preview: Inter Milan vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PI


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .