Elena Rybakina stuns globe No.1 Iga Swiatek to attain Indian Wells final

(CNN) Elena Rybakina defeated globe No. 1 Iga Świątek in straight sets on Friday to attain the Indian Wells final and continue her electric run of type this season.

Świątek had no answer to the potent groundstrokes unleashed by the Wimbledon champion as the Pole was overwhelmed six-two six-two in an hour and 16 minutes.

With this victory, Rybakina became the initial player to win numerous matches against a reigning globe No.1 given that 2019, right after she defeated the Świątek in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

“With Iga, she’s difficult, actually difficult opponent, but when I play this very good and almost everything goes in — due to the fact right now some moments I played, I would say, on my highest level — [these are] moments exactly where you can really feel, okay, I can beat any person if I normally play like this,” mentioned Rybakina right after her win.

“But it is the aim, you by no means really feel remarkable and great just about every match. I assume right now it was just actually very good from me.”

The two players met in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

The globe No. ten was dominant from the commence, breaking Świątek at the initial chance and winning the initial set in just 36 minutes.

Rybakina then raced to a five- lead in the second just before Świątek held and broke back to stem the tide somewhat, but the Kazakh held on for victory, becoming the initial player from her nation to attain a singles final in tournament history. Rybakina was born in Russia but has represented Kazakhstan given that 2018

“If you dropped onto the planet tonight and heard #1 is playing, then it is Rybakina,” former skilled tennis player Pam Shriver tweeted.

Świątek revealed afterwards that she was managing a rib injury and “not feeling one hundred% physically,” while she nonetheless plans to play at the Miami Open subsequent week.

“Honestly, I have not played with a lot of injuries,” she added. “It really is a new circumstance for me, for certain. Final time I played with an injury, like the only tournament I can try to remember is like Roland Garros 2019. So I was fairly young.

“Now it is a completely distinctive level. So I really feel like going on that matches you have to be one hundred% match.”

Rybakina will now face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka for the Indian Wells title in a repeat of this year’s Australian Open final.