Elena Rybakina played another big Indian Wells match like she usually does, with fast start and calm finish. The Kazakh star beats No. 5 seed Usa’s Jessica Pegula 6-1 7-6(4) to reach the BNP Paribas Open semifinals, and the win also locks in a career high move to world No. 2 next week.
Rybakina’s first set was as sharp as the score suggests. She served well, hit clean from the back, and didn’t give Pegula time to get into her rhythm. After the match she put it simply: “I started pretty well, very aggressive, and the serve was working today.”
The second set was where Pegula made it a real match. She started getting more balls back, the rallies got longer, and Rybakina admitted she gave Pegula a little opening: “I felt that I played a little bit passive. She took the opportunity, got the lead.” From there it turned tense, with tight games and small margins, and Rybakina had to fight it out. “After, it was a fight for each game. I was just trying to fight and find a way. In the end, everything worked out,” the Asian star said after closing the tiebreak 7-4.
The numbers show why Rybakina edged it. Her serve helped a lot. She finished with 7 aces, won 65% of her service points, and saved four of five break points. When Pegula finally put pressure on her in the second set, Rybakina saved four break points and didn’t let the match slip. She also took most of the chances she created on Pegula’s serve, and that small difference was enough to get her through in two sets.
Next, Rybakina will play Elina Svitolina for a place in the final. Svitolina reached the semifinals by beating Iga Swiatek 6-2 4-6 6-4, a huge result against a multiple Grand Slam champion and one of the toughest players on the tour. It’s a different kind of matchup, Rybakina’s pace against Svitolina’s defence, and the one who stays steady longer will have the edge.
For the Asian Tennis audience, this is why Rybakina matters so much right now. She is the reigning Australian Open champion, she is the biggest Asian star in the women’s game by far, and she is deep again in a WTA 1000 where the draw is full of top players. Indian Wells never gives you anything for free, but Rybakina has shown she can win in different ways here, easier first set, then fighting through the tight moments in the second. Now she is one win away from another big final, and Asia is watching.
Comments are closed.