Elena Rybakina thought she made the proper shot-decision when selecting the place to go along with her forehand within the important moments of the Aryna Sabalenka match nevertheless it was simply that she “went an excessive amount of” on the miss that later turned out to be very expensive.
After dominating Sabalenka within the first set and successful the opener with a 6-1 scoreline, Rybakina additionally received her an opportunity to serve out for the match after breaking the second-seeded Belarusian for a 5-4 second-set lead.
Down 0-30, Rybakina fired two nice serves to tie the tenth sport to 30/30. Then within the following level, Rybakina had Sabalenka on the ropes and she or he was across the left facet of her personal service line when the Belarusian received the ball again in play. The ball appeared like handed to Rybakina on a plate however then the Kazakh went for a paralalel on her forehand that went simply vast left. After lacking what appeared like a reasonably simple and routine forehand, Rybakina additionally made an unforced error on her backhand within the subsequent level and Sabalenka managed to get the break again.
Sabalenka then went on to assert one other break within the twelfth sport and finally seal a 1-6 7-5 7-6 (5) comeback win.
“It was only a common ball. I feel that I select the proper angle and all the pieces. It is simply I went for an excessive amount of and it went vast,” Rybakina mentioned in her press convention concerning the important miss at 30/30 when serving for the match.
Early within the second set, Rybakina broke Sabalenka within the third sport to go up by a set and a break. Whereas Sabalenka managed to get that break again within the eighth sport, Rybakina as soon as once more went up by a break after breaking the Belarusian within the ninth sport.
Reflecting on what went mistaken when trying to shut out the match, Rybakina mentioned she most likely ought to have stepped up much more in these moments as a result of she felt that Sabalenka was becomign extra aggressive.
“I used to be feeling that she raised the extent within the second set, and I additionally did not keep perhaps aggressive in some moments, perhaps enjoying a bit too passive. I ought to have perhaps stepped in a bit extra,” Rybakina mentioned.
Rybakina completely happy along with her begin to the clay season regardless of the Sabalenka loss
Earlier than coming to Madrid, Rybakina began her clay season by successful a WTA 500 match in Stuttgart. En path to successful Stuttgart, Rybakina impressed as she managed to forestall Iga Swiatek from successful the match for a 3rd consecutive 12 months.
After successful 4 matches in Stuttgart, Rybakina additionally received her opening 4 matches in Madrid earlier than simply narrowly shedding to Sabalenka.
Heading into subsequent week’s Rome Open – the place Rybakina is the defending champion – the 24-year-old Kazakh is completely happy along with her sport and outcomes and hopes that can proceed within the Italian capital.
“Certainly, the beginning of the clay court docket season is superb. Regardless of the defeat right now, I feel I performed rather well. I did all the pieces the correct means. Solely a few factors ended up making the distinction,” Rybakina mentioned.
“Now I’m very pleased with my stage and with how I really feel bodily on the court docket. Now it will likely be necessary to take just a few days off after which attempt to regulate to the circumstances in Rome, as a result of the ball could be very completely different there.
“Usually I undergo with allergy symptoms in Rome. Final 12 months I used to be fortunate as a result of there was a number of rain, we are going to see this 12 months.”
What did Sabalenka say after coming again to beat Rybakina?
In these moments when Rybakina had a routine forehand for a match level on her serve, Sabalenka was undoubtedly getting ready to shedding the match. However expectantly, Sabalenka clinched a break level as an alternative of going through a match level and you recognize what occurred subsequent.
“Truthfully, I do not know the way I did it. I used to be simply making an attempt to do my greatest, making an attempt to battle for each level. I hoped to have the chance to show the sport round, so I am tremendous completely happy I received it. I am very completely happy as a result of it was a really powerful match,” Sabalenka mentioned in her press convention.
“I spent all the first set preventing in opposition to my serve, I could not achieve confidence till I began successful some video games extra simply. This gave me additional power to proceed preventing and testing my serve, after which go break him and get again into the match. Getting again to regular with my serve gave me the chance to battle for the match.”
It stays to be seen if the Sabalenka loss can have any psychological affect on Rybakina in Rome.