Rybakina sets up Qatar Open final clash with Swiatek
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Elena Rybakina is into the final of the Qatar Open after a 6-2 6-4 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semis, setting up a fascinating decider with world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
Defending champion Swiatek will be well rested as she bids to win the tournament for a third consecutive year, after she received a walkover in her semi-final on Friday when Karolina Pliskova withdrew because of a lower back injury.
Rybakina, with wins in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi already this year, looked to be easing to victory before the unseeded Russian put in a brave finish, but couldn’ty stop her setting up a first-ever final meeting with Swiatek.
After an even opening, Rybakina served to love to make it 2-2 before going on to break the Russian’s serve twice in the first set.
Rybakina broke serve straight away in the second, and after that, it looked a formality despite Pavlyuchenkova having six break points before Rybakina rallied to hold serve to make it 3-1.
Rybakina served for the match at 5-2, but Pavlyuchenkova broke serve for the first time to push her opponent all the way.
Swiatek and Rybakina have met on four occasions, with the Kazakh winning the last three, which includes their quarter-final last year in Rome when the Polish star retired through injury with the match tied at one set each and 2-2 in the third.
In Saturday’s final, top seed Swiatek will bid to become the first player to win a WTA event three straight times since Serena Williams won the Miami title from 2013-15.
Reuters
