You are the greatest tennis player in the entire world. You don’t want to get injured just a few days prior to the clay court tournament that is the world’s biggest. After the Rafael Nadal injuries, viewers are already very worried and scared. Another such news will not be easy to accept.
It’s true. Elena Rybakina defeated Iga Swiatek once again in 2023. It wasn’t a simple scoreline loss, but something worse. Swiatek was forced to retire after suffering an injury in the final minutes of the match, days before the French Open.
Both players won a set. Swiatek won the first set with ease, 6-2. Rybakina, who was hanging on by a thin thread, was threatening to win the match. Rybakina scored crucial points to force a tiebreaker in the second set. She won the second set with a score of 2-6 7-6.
Swiatek also retired after the fourth game. It was a surprise to all who watched as she appeared to be on track to reach the Rome semi-finals. She was also expected to win her third Roland Garros title. This injury has harmed her chances.
Swiatek’s camp claims that it is a leg injury. Swiatek was having trouble moving on the court. She has almost ten more days to recover before the French Open begins. As we approach the biggest clay event, all eyes will be focused on her recovery.
What’s next for Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina has gained a significant lead with her win over Iga Swaatek, the top seed. Now she has a 3-1 win record against the Polish star. It is her third victory over Swiatek in this year. This is the most wins anyone has ever had in 2023 over the top-seed. Australian Open, Indian Wells and now the Italian Open. Rybakina was able to defeat Swiatek in the big stage.
In her semi-final, she will face Latvian Jelena Ostapenko. Ostapenko made it to the semis after a hard-fought battle in three sets against Paula Badosa, 6-2 4-6. Both players have shown great quality in the last 10 days, so this will be an exciting match. Both players will give their best as a win in Rome would set them up perfectly for Paris.
