Elena Rybakina is discovering that her big serve and heavy groundstrokes can do damage on clay courts, too.
The Wimbledon champion was dominating 21-9 with winners when Ukrainian opponent Anhelina Kalinina retired due to a left thigh injury early in the second set of the rain-delayed Italian Open final on Saturday.
“I can play good on all the surfaces,” Rybakina said. “It’s just maybe for clay I need to be ready more physically and maybe have a lot of preparation.”
It’s been quite a year for Rybakina, who reached the final of the Australian Open, also won an elite title in Indian Wells and was the runner-up in Miami.
“I’m proud that I can maintain this level,” she said. “I can see improvements on the court, physi-cally also. … I think there is still a lot of room to im-prove.”
On Monday, Rybakina will move up to a career-high No. 4 in the rankings and will be a contender at the French Open, which starts next weekend.
“She’s serving 200 kph (125 mph). She’s also making winners like no one on tour,” Kalinina said. “Anyone can win in Paris, but she has good chances.
“I am sure if she’s going to do like this, maybe new world No. 1 for sure.” Rybakina was leading 6-4, 1-0, 15-0 when Kalinina called for a trainer and grasped her left leg as she teared up. She then de-cided she couldn’t continue.—APP
