Elena Rybakina becomes the first female tennis player to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
In a battle between the last two Grand Slam Champions, Elena Rybakina came out on top in straight sets of 6-4 6-4 against world No. 1 and title favorite, Iga Swiatek, to book her spot in the quarterfinals.
In the opening game of the first set, Rybakina broke Swiatek from 40-0, saved two break-back points, and holds for 2-0.
The top seed recovered and got the much-needed hold for 2-1 then breaks to love and back on serve at 2-2, and a swift love jolt to back it up 3-2.
Rybakina pounced on the Pole’s second serve again and breaks for a 4-3 lead. She consolidates the break for 5-3, then Swiatek held and Rybakina served for the first set at 5-4. A love hold for her winning the first set 6-4.
Swiatek started the second set with a hold but was still not getting her serves in as she wanted. Some errors from Rybakina’s racket led to Swiatek’s breaks to lead 2-0.
A series of good plays from Swiatek saw her hold to consolidate the breakpoint, extending her lead to 3-0. However, Rybakina would bounce back, forcing Swiatek to lose the break with some errors.
She got the match back on serve and got into a bit of trouble in service but kept bailing herself out with big serves.
Another shaky service from Swiatek and Rybakina breaks for 5-4. Finally serving for the match, the Kazakhstan star won the second set 6-4.
Her victory over the World No. 1 proves her Wimbledon victory was no fluke. She also writes another chapter in her Grand Slam story as the first woman representing Kazakhstan to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Swiatek will rue her shaky serves, which cost her the match. She got three wins at the tournament but never quite hit her full gear in Melbourne.
Her loss means the 2023 Australian Open will be the first Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era, where the Top 2 seeds in both the men’s and women’s singles draws have lost prior to the quarterfinals.
