Elena Rybakina conquers Aryna Sabalenka in Indian Wells battle to win maiden WTA 1000 title
Elena Rybakina avenges her Australian Open defeat as she overcomes Aryna Sabalenka in straight-sets to win the 2023 Indian Wells Open.
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Elena Rybakina posing with the 2023 Indian Wells Open trophy
Elena Rybakina overcame ghosts of the past to overpower Aryna Sabalenka to win the BNP Paribas title at Indian Wells, US, in straight sets on Sunday night. For more than one reason, Elena’s powerful win 7-6(11), 6-4, her first in a WTA 1000 event, will ensure she leapfrogs in the rankings in a few hours. Given the labyrinth which women’s tennis is today, where Iga Swiatek is No.1 despite her up and down form, for these two ladies, err, girls to come out firing was pulsating to watch.
Already, between Elena and Aryna, there is a certain amount of context — history and geography. History first, in Melbourne, at the Australian Open final in January, Aryna Sabalenka won the women’s title in front of a raucous crowd. Some fans were interested in tennis and some in their nationalities. Nevertheless, the two combatants provided good tennis to view.
For sheer power, range of shots, and ability to turn on the heat, Elena Rybakina, a Kazakh, not Russian, showed she could master conditions and opponents. One has to put in perspective her win, as Elena does not get great press. One is not sure why the Western media, obsessed, at times, and fixated on the Russia-Ukraine war wants to think they are war correspondents and not mere tennis writers.
It hardly mattered to 23-year-old Elena. She faced loads of crap from the press at The Championships in Wimbledon last year. The entire focus of the press was she is a Kazakh. For her, the only concern was and is winning. That she was born in Russia is no sin or crime. That she migrated long ago to Kazakhstan to pursue her passion and career — tennis — has given results. The time Elena left Russia was not due to war.
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Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka both facing heat because of Russia
It was her own war, not getting sponsorship or backing from the Russian tennis federation as there were better players than her. It was Kazakhis who supported her and love her. The Russia today and the Russia a few years ago are vastly different. From economy to sport, they were rocking. Yet, to rake up Russia and link Elena to it is rubbish. Perhaps, these taunts rile her up.
The end product, she produces brilliant tennis and walks away winner, proof of which was the first set tie-break in Indian Wells. She did it in Wimbledon 2022, too, when the press focus was Russia or Kazakh passport, while all the girl was happy about was the Venus Rosewater dish in her hand and the prize cheque. At that time, she had swatted away Ons Jabeur.
Even more sad, Wimbledon had no ranking points in 2022. If not, Elena Rybakina would be farther up in the WTA ladder. This Wimbledon promises to be different. Never mind, she is going to come out even more stronger. There cannot be a better week for a champion to beat Iga Swiatek and then Aryna Sabalaneka and win a WTA 1000 title. The effort and effects are there to see.
Maybe, this is a time to pause. In this madness of war between Russia and Ukraine, where many nations have joined in to offer support to either party, targeting tennis players has been ruthless. There has been locker room “bitching” as to how Russia versus Ukraine does affect big players like Sabalenka. For its part, the WTA can step in only till one point.
This generation needs to respect, there is no World War going on, like at the time of Adolf Hitler. This was is different, owing to one man’s craziness, wherein Vladimir Putin cannot be tamed by any of the Super Powers. There will eventually be a meltdown, there will be an end, even if it means mindlessly one nation is blown to dust. For all those offering support — financial and arms — to Ukraine, the larger picture is athletes are not part of the war.
Tennis needs to realize, passports and nationalities matter only when you are playing Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup. Enjoy the riveting tennis produced by Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka. These two girls are aggressive and emotional as well. It is bad enough that players had to deal with the Covid pandemic. To face the wrath of a war between two nations is not one.
Yes, Sabalenka is Belarussian, which is a curse. She has not signed some papers she supports the war. Tennis needs to respect that these players are able to leave aside all this trauma and play. The same goes for Daniil Medvedev as well, who lost in Indian Wells. Very soon, the French Open will come up. And then Wimbledon. Even if the war does not end between Russia and Ukraine, leave the tennis players out. They are on the courts to entertain and win. Plus earn their livelihood. They did it in Indian Wells. Right?
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)