Rybakina Dominates French Open Court
Elena Rybakina, the No.4 seed, secured her spot in the third round of the French Open for the third consecutive year, overpowering Linda Noskova with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory on the renowned Court Suzanne Lenglen. In a remarkable display of skill, Rybakina claimed her eighth consecutive win, following her recent triumph at the WTA 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome.
With this win, the reigning Wimbledon champion enhanced her overall 2023 record to an impressive 32-7, which includes notable victories at Indian Wells and the Australian Open final on hard courts. Throughout the match, Rybakina exhibited control over her game and effectively managed the scoreboard.
The first set was decided by two crucial breaks. Rybakina seized the initiative in the opening game, taking a 2-1 lead with a remarkable backhand winner in response to a powerful drive volley from Noskova. The final game of the set witnessed an intense battle, with the young Czech valiantly saving five set points before succumbing to successive double faults.
In the second set, Noskova had a chance to break Rybakina’s serve in the seventh game, as the Kazakh player committed a series of unforced errors. However, Noskova failed to capitalize on three break points, allowing Rybakina to regain her composure, hold her serve, and ultimately break the teenager for a 5-3 lead.
Rybakina’s next challenge will be against Sara Sorribes Tormo, promising a different and exciting test for the talented player. Sorribes Tormo secured her place in the third round after defeating Petra Martic 6-4, 6-1 in an impressive display lasting 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Re-reported from the story originally published in Mid-Day English
