Iga Swiatek kicked off Saturday on the World Tennis League with a 6-3 win over Elena Rybakina and Group Eagles now have an early lead versus Group Falcons.
Early within the Abu Dhabi match, it was the 2022 Wimbledon champion who had the chance to make the primary transfer however she did not convert a break level on the Pole’s serve within the third recreation – the world No. 2 gained that recreation by way of a deciding level.
After a few video games with out break factors on both facet, Rybakina’s service recreation went to deuce – and in contrast to the Kazakh – Swiatek was capable of convert her first probability and open a 4-2 lead.
That one break of serve was sufficient for the four-time French Open winner, who then routinely held on to her serve for the rest of the conflict to finish the win.
It needs to be talked about that the match might have completed sooner had the 23-year-old realized her first match level on the 25-year-old’s serve within the eighth recreation.
Now, they may keep on the court docket because the Pole will group up with Paula Badosa to tackle the Kazakh and Caroline Garcia.
Swiatek’s new coach only in the near past named Rybakina because the Pole’s ‘hardest opponent’
On the WTA Tour, the 25-year-old owns a 4-2 head-to-head in opposition to the world No. 2. And only in the near past, coach Wim Fissette named the Kazakh because the hardest matchup for the five-time Grand Slam champion.
However of their first assembly in opposition to Rybakina as a participant/coach duo, the Pole and the Belgian ended victorious.
Whereas it was simply an exhibition match, it might probably give Swiatek some optimistic momentum forward of the 2025 season and the possible conferences she can have in opposition to the Kazakh.
It stays to be seen if the previous world No. 1 can now additionally win her doubles match with Badosa in opposition to Rybakina and Garcia.
