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

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

Świątek had no answer to the strong 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 1st player to win various matches against a reigning planet No.1 given that 2019, following she defeated the Świątek in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

“With Iga, she’s difficult, definitely difficult opponent, but when I play this very good and every thing goes in — due to the fact these days 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 one if I generally play like this,” mentioned Rybakina following her win.

“But it is the aim, you never ever really feel incredible and ideal each and every match. I assume these days it was just definitely very good from me.”

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

The planet No. ten was dominant from the begin, breaking Świątek at the 1st chance and winning the 1st 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 1st 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 expert tennis player Pam Shriver tweeted.

Świątek revealed afterwards that she was managing a rib injury and “not feeling one hundred% physically,” even though she nevertheless 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 scenario for me, for positive. Final time I played with an injury, like the only tournament I can don’t forget is like Roland Garros 2019. So I was quite 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.