Chinese Qinwen Zheng, Olympic champion and world No. 7, beat Kazakh Elena Rybakina (No. 5) 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-1, after a 2h24 match, Monday in Riyadh at the WTA Masters .
After this new defeat of Elena Rybakinaalready beaten on Saturday by the Italian Jasmine Paolini (nº4), the Kazakh's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals in this Violet group are very slim. A Belarusian victory Aryna Sabalenka (world n°1) against Paolini in the second group match on Monday will eliminate him.
In the first set, Qinwen Zheng saved two break points at 1-1, before immediately taking the opposing service to break away 3-1, then 4-1. Rybakina stayed in the match by taking Zheng's serve on a double fault from the Chinese to return to 3-4, then 4-4. In the deciding game, Zheng broke away 4-1 by taking advantage of four errors in a row from Rybakina, obtained three set points at 6-3, and pocketed this set in almost an hour, thanks to a backhand too along the Kazakh.
In the second set, the level went up a notch, the match gained in intensity. The two players, playing well at the same time, went blow for blow. Zheng obtained the first break point at 2-2, on which Rybakina gave in under the power of her forehands. But the Kazakh broke immediately, on her first break point too, then delighted Zheng's commitment to lead 5-3 and equalize at one set all on a shutout.
In the decisive set, Zheng broke first again, at 2-1, thanks to a long-line backhand return leaving Rybakina on the spot. She confirmed this break with a shutout to lead 4-1. Unlike the first set, Rybakina will not be able to come back this time, losing for the first time against the Chinese in three confrontations.
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