Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina set for crunch match – ‘It’s not going to be easy’

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will meet for the third time in 2023 as they will face each other in the quarter-final of the Italian Open.
World No 1 Swiatek won her rain-delayed match against Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4 to book her place in the last eight while Rybakina completed her fourth-round encounter against Marketa Vondrousova on Monday, winning 6-3, 6-3.
For two-time defending champion Swiatek, her match against Vekic was her biggest test so far in Rome this year as she only dropped two games in her opening two matches after winning 6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-0 with her winning streak now 14-0.
“I just played well in important points,” she said: “When I was under pressure, I could play a little bit more solid. I’m happy that in those important moments I was proactive and more solid.”
The Pole added: “I knew that I could play more proactive game, but on the other hand in these conditions, when the balls are going to get heavy, it’s pretty hard to speed it up. I waited for the right moment to break. I would say I wanted to be kind of patient with my decisions.”
Defense to Offense 🔥
Incredible stuff from @iga_swiatek to get the break deep in the 2nd set!#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/gHLYMIQiFD
— wta (@WTA) May 16, 2023
But the competition will be a lot sterner on Wednesday as Rybakina has had the three-time Grand Slam winner’s number so far this year.
The reigning Wimbledon champion beat the Pole in the last 16 at the Australian Open in January and then again two months later in the semi-final of the Indian Wells Open. On both occassions the Kazakh player won in straight sets.
“It’s not going to be easy. She’s in great shape this season. It’s going to be challenging but I’m ready for it,” Swiatek said. “We’ll see how it’s going to go. I still feel really comfortable on clay so I hope it’s going to be a nice match.”
Iga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina the story so far…
Swiatek won their first-ever encounter in the quarter-final in Ostrava in 2021 as she claimed a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win, but Rybakina won 6-4, 6-4 in the Australian Open fourth round this year and followed it up with a 6,-2, 6-2 win in Indian Wells.
The winner of the Swiatek-Rybakina encounter will face either Jelena Ostapenko or Paula Badosa in the semi-final. Latvian Ostapenko defeated eighth seed Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 while Badosa was a 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 winner over Karolina Muchova.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Maria Sharapova announces her return to the court
Former World No 1 Maria Sharapova has revealed that she will be back on a court in Miami in 2024.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: Roger Federer showcases trademark shot as he returns to the court at the Laver Cup
Roger Federer took to the court to hit some balls ahead of the 2023 Laver Cup, much to the delight of fans of social media.
-
Tennis News
Active French player provisionally suspended pending anti-corruption charges
Maxence Broville has been provisionally suspended from the sport.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic is always in shadows of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal but finally getting credit’
A renowned pundit thinks Novak Djokovic is “finally getting all the credit he deserves.”
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer still follows tennis ‘very closely’ and feels ‘generational change is noticeable’
Roger Federer has revealed that he still follows tennis “very, very closely” and discussed the “new generational change” in the sport.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena reveals the day he wanted to quit tennis
Novak Djokovic was all set to quit tennis after his second round defeat to Benoit Paire at the 2018 Miami Masters.
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray discusses dream to play final Olympics after being ‘really disappointed last time’
Andy Murray has discussed his goal to play at the Paris Olympics next year and reflected on the disappointment of his last Games.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic reveals what he learned most from ‘intimidating’ Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic has outlined the most important lesson he has learned from his great rival Rafael Nadal.
-
Tennis News
Top analyst makes ‘frustration’ claim about ‘mentally fatigued’ Carlos Alcaraz
A top analyst thinks Carlos Alcaraz is “mentally so fatigued from everything that he’s been through” and needs a break.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic is the GOAT and only one athlete in any sport is comparable’, claims former world No 4
A US Open finalist has labelled Novak Djokovic as the tennis GOAT and believes only one athlete in all of sport is comparable.