Rybakina had everything in her hands but then she missed a routine forehand which could have given her a match point.

She’s set to face Iga Swiatek—the WTA's world No. 1 vs. No. 2—in a rematch of last year’s excellent three-set title match.

E lena Rybakina failing to close out the match against Aryna Sabalenka in a stunning way also had an impact on Coco Gauff as the American won't be making her top-2 debut on Monday. When the Madrid Open started, world No. 2 Sabalenka as the defending champion had 1,000 points to defend while third-ranked Gauff just 45.

The victory notably saw Sabalenka halt Rybakina’s 17-match win streak on clay courts and set up a 2023 final rematch with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Rybakina had dominated her Brisbane final with the world No. 2 at the start of the season, dropping just three games. It looked like more of the same would play out until nerves crept in.

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madrid Open on Saturday after a third-set tiebreaker, telling her opponent after the championship match that "it's always a challenge playing against you.

Iga Swiatek beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) in Madrid to add the final crown missing from her collection of titles on clay

The world number one saved three match points before coming through a tense tie-break to complete a 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7) victory.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in a three-set thriller in the SF of the 2024 Madrid Open at the Manolo Santana, ending Rybakina's 16-match clay-court winning streak. The post Madrid Open Faces Serious Backlash From Fans as Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Clash Lacked a Vital Element appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Elena Rybakina's sister Anna showed her support for the Kazakh after her recent loss in the 2024 Madrid Open. Rybakina reached the semifinals. Despite a valiant effort against Aryna Sabalenka in the last four,