“It’s a motivation to win even more,” Elena Rybakina reacts to her castigation after defeating Danielle Collins in the Australian Open third round
Elena Rybakina keeps on clearing barriers in the 2023 Australian Open despite her ill-treatment by the organisers.
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Elena Rybakina, Danielle Collins
Kazakhstan tennis player Elena Rybakina is one of the most promising youngsters in the women’s side currently. The 23-year-old stunned everyone last year when she claimed the Wimbledon Championship, her first Grand Slam title. In the ongoing Australian Open, she is working hard to make her presence felt despite not getting the deserved attention.
In the first round of her campaign, Rybakina defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets. But it was the relegation of a reigning Wimbledon champion to one of the outside courts that overtook the convincing victory of the Kazakh player. This became a course of controversy and the organizers came under criticism for the ill-treatment of Rybakina.
But Rybakina’s Russian origin too played a role in the castigation. The Russian and Belarusian players have paid the unfair price of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Rybakina, on the other hand, was not impacted by the treatment. She went on to win the second round in an even more emphatic manner than the previous one against Kaja Juvan, a Slovenian newcomer.
On Friday, Rybakina made a statement once again in the tennis arena after she defeated the American Danielle Collins, the 11th ranked player in the third round bout on Kia Arena to book her spot in the fourth round.
The ill-treatment gave additional motivation, Elena Rybakina believes
After her this round victory Elena Rybakina seemed more confident. She was asked about her relegation to the outside court in the post-match interview. Rybakina smiled and acknowledged that she does not harbor any anger against the organizers and explained how it helped her.
“Well, I guess it’s a motivation to win even more. Maybe next time they’re going to put me first match somewhere else, not the Court 13,” Rybakina explained. “As I said It doesn’t really matter. I just want to win as much as I can,” she continued.
In the fourth round, Rybakina will face the current World No.1 Iga Swiatek on Sunday. Though the Pole remains the overwhelming favorite an upset can not be ruled out given the fine form of Rybakina. All eyes are her now to make an even bigger statement.
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Abhinavendu Singh
(290 Articles Published)