Black day for the favorites at the Australian Open. The Kazakh Elena Rybakinanumber 3 in the world and last year’s finalist in Melbourne, starred in the big surprise of the day after falling on Thursday in the second round against Russian Anna Blinkovanumber 57 in the world, winning 6-4, 4-6 and 7-6 (22/20).
Blinkova needs ten match pointssaving six of her own, to seal victory in a thrilling 32-minute super tie-break, the longest in women’s tennis at a Grand Slam tournament.
With this result, Rybakina will drop to fifth position in the WTA ranking after losing 1,230 points after failing to reach the final in 2023.
Rybakina was born in Moscow, Blinkova has yet to reach the third round in Melbourne in six participations in the main draw. “It gave me a lot of energy, fighting until the end. Moments you enjoy. It was very difficult. Stay focused, there are many match points. I tried to be aggressive but my hand was shaking, as well as my legs. “So happy to win in the end,” he commented on the same track after the two hour and 46 minute match.
Her loss came at the hands of one of the strong favorites to reach the final rounds, Jessica Pegulawho decisively lost to Frenchwoman Claire Burel 6-4, 6-2.
Daria Kasatkina (14) is also out of the fightwhich saw Sloane Stephens come back in a close match to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Emma Raducanu says goodbye after falling to China’s Yafan Wang by 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
All this, after the eliminations this Wednesday of Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur, who suffered tough losses in their matches against Russians Elina Avanesyan (6-4, 6-4) and Mirra Andreeva (6-0, 6-2) respectively.
Source: La Verdad
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