Elena Rybakina ‘destroyed’ after winning Montreal epic at 2:55 am

Ewan West
Elena Rybakina playing in Montreal
Elena Rybakina reacts in Montreal

Elena Rybakina declared that she was “destroyed” after completing an epic three-set victory over Daria Kasatkina in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Canadian Open in Montreal.

The world No 4 admitted she did not think she had ever played a match like the three-hour-and-30-minute thriller – which concluded at 2:55 am – before in her career.

Rybakina came back to prevail 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(8) over the world No 14 after surviving a match point and her opponent serving for the match twice. Both players broke serve 10 times in the remarkable contest.

Five breaks came in the opening set, which Kasatkina served out at the second time of asking after securing her third break to take a 6-5 lead.

The 26-year-old Russian then served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, before Rybakina won three straight games to edge a set featuring nine breaks.

After trailing 0-3 in the final set, Kasatkina hit back and served for the match again at 6-5 – only to be broken to see the match go to a deciding tiebreak.

Rybakina saved a match point at 7-8 in the tiebreak, before converting her fifth match point to seal victory in the late-night marathon.

The world No 4 reacted to her draining triumph in an on-court interview.

“I am destroyed guys! But thank you so much for everyone who stayed so late. It’s really amazing that you supported us,” said the Kazakh.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion was asked if she had played a match like this in her career.

“I don’t think so. I have played three sets, tough battles. But like this? Honestly, physically it’s really tough. And it is so late! I never played that late. So, yeah. Guys, just thank you so much. And hopefully somehow I can recover tomorrow,” added Rybakina.

The 24-year-old has won all four of her WTA 1000 quarter-finals in 2023, after having an 0-3 record in last eight matches at this level before this year. She has now won 22 matches at WTA 1000 tournaments this year – the most on tour.

Rybakina was asked earlier in the event whether it is more difficult to win a Grand Slam or to consistently reach quarter-finals and semi-finals of events.

“Good question. To be consistent is very tough. I’d say that. To be consistent with all the changes of the surface, balls, traveling a lot. I’d say this is the toughest,” explained the world No 4.

READ MORE: ‘Carlos Alcaraz is on track to win number of Grand Slams to become a legend’, says Gael Monfils

Related Articles