Elena Rybakina stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in Cincinnati, showcasing flawless serving to reach the semifinals against Iga Swiatek in a thrilling showdown.
WEBDESK — Elena Rybakina delivered a statement performance Thursday, dismantling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4 to book her place in the Cincinnati semifinals against Iga Swiatek.
The former Wimbledon champion was nearly flawless on serve, dictating rallies and keeping Sabalenka under constant pressure. An error-strewn display from the Belarusian only magnified Rybakina’s dominance, as the Kazakh stormed through the opening set before closing out the contest in just 75 minutes.
Sabalenka, who entered as defending champion, tried to mount a fightback in the second set but her inconsistency proved costly. The defeat ends her title defense and raises questions ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open.
Rybakina credited her serve as the decisive factor. “I’m happy with the serve. It was the key today,” she said afterward. “If she had been serving well, it would have been a different match. It was also intense from the baseline. I just hope to continue like this.”
Her next challenge will be Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, who overcame Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 in a physically demanding quarterfinal on a sweltering day in Ohio. Their 90-minute clash underscored Swiatek’s resilience as she continued her strong hard-court form.
Saturday’s semifinal is set to be a blockbuster. Swiatek currently holds a 5-4 edge in their head-to-head meetings, including two victories this year. But with Rybakina hitting top gear at just the right time, the showdown promises high drama and heavyweight shot-making between two of the sport’s fiercest competitors.
For Rybakina, it’s another chance to prove her big-match credentials. For Swiatek, it’s an opportunity to cement her dominance ahead of the season’s final Grand Slam.
