Elena Rybakina overcomes rain delay and feisty Latvian Jelena Ostapenka 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the final of the WTA Italian Open on Friday. Rybakina, ranked world number six, is currently number five in live rankings and number two in 2023 Race to the Finals.
Up next for the Kazakh tennis star is Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina who outlasted Veronika Kudermetova of Russia.
By virtue of reaching the Rome final, Rybakina has secured a career-high world top 5 debut. The Kazakh star who reigned in Wimbledon last year has continued her magnificent run this season with runner-up finishes in Australian Open and Miami and a title-run at Indian Wells.
A win on Saturday would secure her a second WTA 1000-level title.
“I didn’t start that well the second set,” Rybakina said. “A bit low in energy, lost my serve. So it was difficult. Then a few good shots from her, good serves. It changed very quick.
“The same time, I knew it’s only one break and I just need to be focused and fight for every ball because you never know, either you get the winner or it’s going to be some mistake.”
“I came without any expectation because I knew the other years were really tough for me coming and play here,” Rybakina said. “Maybe for some people, rain is not good. I guess for my allergies it went the other way. It’s helping me a bit to feel better here.
“I’m just happy that I got so many matches now before French Open.”
