Elena Rybakina beats Linda Noskova in Roland Garros third round for third straight year
Published Date – Thu 01 Jun 23 at 07:00pm
Photo: IANS
Paris: No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina beat Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 26 minutes on Thursday to secure a spot in the third round of the French Open for the third straight year.
The result was Rybakina’s eighth straight victory following her first WTA 1000 clay-court title in Rome two weeks earlier. The defending Wimbledon champion extended her 2023 record to 32-7, which also includes a win at the Indian Wells Championship and a hard-court final at the Australian Open.
The 18-year-old Noskova made her tour debut a full 12 months ago after qualifying for the 2022 French Open. A year later, she has risen to No. 50 in the world following an impressive transition to the WTA Tour, including her first final in Adelaide in January.
At times, the game seemed to be Rybakina competing with her younger self. Both players wore identical bright pink Yonex outfits, with deadpan faces. Game-wise, both have effortless wing power, powerful serves and impressive technique.
But Rybakina, five years her senior at 23, has the edge in experience, which shows in both her control of her game and the management of the scoreboard.
After dealing with Noskova’s power, Rybakina faced a very different test next as Sara Sorribes Tormo rallied 6-4 in 1 hour and 29 minutes. Beat Petra Martic 6-1.
Sorribes Tormo, who was out between September and April, slipped from a career-high 32nd to 132nd. However, the Spaniard was at her tireless best as she reached the third round of a major for the second time in her career after the 2021 US Open.
Sorribes Tormo won her only previous meeting with Rybakina 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the third round at Miami in 2021.
