3 days ago
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After a back-and-forth opening to the match, it really felt like Rybakina began to click into gear as the first set progressed and, ultimately, Swiatek couldn’t go with her.
Of particular importance was the Kazakhstani’s serve, which began to land a lot more and deliver some important aces. After making five in the first set, Rybakina also didn’t make a single return unforced error in the second and ultimately fired down 26 winners to ten.
She’ll now face the winner of Jessica Pegula (6) and Amanda Anisimova (4), which is due up next on Rod Laver Arena.
Elena Rybakina defeats Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1
Elena Rybakina* (5) 5-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) Serving for the match, Rbyakina falls behind but Swiatek can’t build on it, sending a forehand into the net to level things. Not good.
Two good serves them prove unreturnable and bring up two match points and Rybakina books her place in the semifinals in style firing down an eleventh ace of the contest to end things.
Elena Rybakina (5) 5-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Oh dear. Swiatek’s race might be run here. The Pole takes the first point but Rybakina fires back with four straight points to claim the break – her final backhand winner landing just – just – inbounds in what felt like something of a backbreaker.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 4-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) A backhand sent long by the Kazakhstani sees Swiatek move ahead and it’s soon 0-30 when Rybakina fires a forehand into the net.
An ace gets Rybakina on the board and she’s then level when Swiatek lashes a cross-court backhand long and wide. Another ace makes it 40-30 but Swiatek makes a statement of her own when she fires a backhand winner down the line to bring up deuce.
But two aces see out the hold for Rybakina, it almost feeling like they were sent down with an exclamation mark of ‘oh, you thought you were getting the break?’
Elena Rybakina (5) 3-1 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek’s reaction to an opening ace tells you how important this game is, and she moves closer to a vital hold when Rybakina sends a backhand into the net.
A baseline forehand sent long by Swiatek draws a murmur from the crowd but she steadies by whipping down a serve Rybakina can only send long on the return. Another ace secures a vital hold – now she goes hunting for the break that will get her back in the match.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 3-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) Rybakina continues to struggle to land her first serve and double faults to make it 15-30. But a backhand winner and serve-and-forehand combination steadies things and she secures the hold with a powerful ace.
Already down a set and down 3-0, a must-hold for Swiatek looms.
Elena Rybakina (5) 2-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Rybakina breaks early!
Swiatek’s first double fault of the match sees her fall behind and Rybakina forges further when the Pole swings a forehand wide. Rybakina forces Swiatek deep on a baseline exchange on the next point and eventually claims it with a backhand winner laced down the line to line up three break points, the first of which she takes with a well-placed forehand return.
Rybakina looked like she was growing into things at the end of the first set while Swiatek was tensing up. Perhaps we’re seeing a continuation of that into the second set?
Elena Rybakina* (5) 1-0 7-5 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek misfires with a forehand to give up the first point of the second set but gets back on the board when she drives a forehand return wide that Rybakina can’t make proper contact with. An ace restores the Kazakhstani’s advantage and she presses further ahead when Swiatek sends a return just long.
A well-struck backhand return from the second seed induces Rybakina into lofting a forehand long but the hold is secured when she whips down a serve that Swiatek can’t return.
Rybakina was able to land just 41% of her first serves in that set -- a good thing for Swiatek given she won 93% of the points she did -- but fired down 12 winners to seven and kept her cool when it counted to claim the first set.
Elena Rybakina takes the first set 7-5
Elena Rybakina (5) 7-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Two backhand errors from Rybakina see Swiatek move ahead as she attempts to force a tiebreak. Rybakina responds by moving her opponent from left to right and back again with some powerful baseline shots, inducing an error. A 148 km/h forehand winner then levels things for the Kazakhstani and Swiatek misjudges a forehand smash off a high lob to surrender break and set point.
Swiatek answers back with a serve-and-forehand winner drilled at 135 km/h to bring up deuce but finds herself on the edge once more when she puts a forehand into the net. With the air thick with tension, Swiatek then smashes a backhand into the net to give up the first set in 59 minutes.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 6-5 Iga Swiatek (2) An ace deftly placed down the T gives Swiatek no chance. Neither does the one that immediately follows, either. Rybakina goes to her second serve on the subsequent exchanges but momentum is in her corner and she holds to love.
Elena Rybakina (5) 5-5 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek steps up with the pressure on, needing to hold to keep this opening set alive and does just that
A baseline exchange ends with Rybakina sending a backhand long to open the game, but a good Rybakina return on second serve in the next point forces a backhand error. A long forehand return from Rybakina moves it to 15-30 and it’s quickly 15-40 when Swiatek forces her opponent very wide and unable to keep a forehand in. Another forehand return sails long to bring up another hold.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 5-4 Iga Swiatek (2) Swiatek smashes a backhand return into the net to fall behind and then is rendered a spectator when Rybakina thunders a forehand winner across the court to make it 30-15. Swiatek’s power gradually gives her the advantage across a 14-shot rally she takes when a big overhead smash forces an error. But an unforced error gives Swiatek back impetus and she then secures the hold with an ace.
Elena Rybakina (5) 4-4 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek forces Rybakina into back-to-back errors to move ahead but surrenders the next point when she loops a forehand well beyond the baseline. A neat return from the fifth seed then induces her opponent to skid a backhand into the net but her attempt to land a forehand return in the corner on the next point goes long.
A serve blasted down the T proves unreturnable, giving Swiatek the hold.
Elena Rybakina* (5) 4-3 Iga Swiatek (2) A superb backhand winner laced down the line gives Rybakina the first point, setting the stage for her to race through and claim the first hold to love of the contest.
Elena Rybakina (5) 3-3 Iga Swiatek* (2) Swiatek sends a backhand long to give up the first point but powers back to take the next two. Rybakina meets a poorly-placed drop shot with a vicious backhand winner to level things at 30-30 but the Pole fires down her first ace of the game to move back ahead. After a good serve down the T, Swiatek then moves Rybakina as she gets to the net and induces an error to claim the hold.
