Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won the Italian Open title by defeating Elena Kalinina in the final

Kazakhstan tennis player Elena Rybakina won her second title of the year by defeating the injured Angelina Kalinina in the final of the ongoing Italian Open on Sunday. She overcame Anhelina Kalinina, who was injured, 6–4, 1–0, ret. Kalinina was forced to withdraw from the final due to a left thigh injury. After a rain interruption for most of the day, No. 7 seed Rybakina won after No. 30 seed Kalinina was unable to continue after 65 minutes. Ryabkina had earlier defeated Kalinina on the clay courts of Charleston last year.

“Definitely, happy with the title. That’s not how I want to end this match. It’s been a great, I think, result for Angelina. She fought some tough battles. I’m really looking forward to her improvement.” Happy. Hope she can continue.” hence. It is a pity that she could not finish the match. I hope it is nothing serious. So hopefully she can recover quickly and she can continue like this,” said Elena after the match as quoted by WTA.

Angelina Kalinina has tears in her eyes as she explains to the physio she cannot continue in her match against Elena Rybakina

You can see the heartbreak on their faces.

This was his moment. Her first WTA 1000 final.

But this week his fighting spirit was a true inspiration. pic.twitter.com/L6lbZ7o1YI– The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 20, 2023

Reigning Wimbledon champion Rybakina is expected to move up to world No. 4 after this fortnight after her fifth career singles championship in Rome, which marked her debut in the top 5 of the WTA Tour singles rankings.

5__Hologic WTA Tour title

Rybakina is your 2023 @InteBNLdItalia the champion_#ibi23 pic.twitter.com/XWjXW0HNq5— WTA (@WTA) May 20, 2023

Rybakina, this year’s Australian Open runner-up, is the first player to win two WTA 1000 titles this season, adding the Rome trophy to her Indian Wells success. Rybakina also made her third WTA 1000 final in Miami this year, and she is 19-2 in WTA 1000 events this year.

Only Monica Seles in 1991 and Maria Sharapova in 2012 have reached the finals at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and Rome in the same season in the Open era. Rybakina has won 28 Tour-level matches this year and is tied for second on Tour with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Only world No. 2 and current Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has won more matches this year, 29 in total.

“I’m proud that I can maintain this level. It’s not easy with all the scheduling, the travel. I think we’re doing a good job with the team. I can see the improvement physically on the court as well.” .. I think we’re on the right track,” Winner said. Rybakina won 21 games and committed 17 unforced errors in the abbreviated final. He added three aces to his Tour-leading total of 278 this year, with 32 coming in the final two weeks in Rome.

Rybakina dropped serve during a long first game, and Kalinina eventually took a 3–1 first set lead. However, Rybakina leveled the score at 3-3 and came back with a 5-4 break in the first set thanks to a powerful service return. Kalinina served a point in the second game of the second set, claiming she could not move on her left foot. Doctors arrived on the court, but Kalinina was forced to stop immediately due to injury.

“I feel like I’m at my physical limit today. Today, yes, I started, but after, I don’t know, two, three games, I couldn’t. I was trying, but it was absolutely impossible. . I am most proud of my fighting spirit in these two weeks. I was fighting regardless of the score, any situation, any weather conditions and opponents. Everyone was very tough. A serious draw,” concluded Elena Removed