Flawless Elena Rybakina Follows Serena Williams’ Footsteps by Pulling off Unique Feat in Brisbane

Published 01/07/2024, 5:44 AM EST

It is undoubtedly a challenging task to overcome the reigning Grand Slam champion, Aryna Sabalenka. However, Elena Rybakina has made it look easy, as she defeated her Belarusian opponent in straight sets at the Brisbane International. In the process of clinching the title, the Kazakhstani tennis player has also pulled off a rare feat on the women’s tour.

Rybakina has stunned the tennis community by scoring a bagel against the top-seed player in Brisbane. With her sheer dominance against Sabalenka, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has now joined Serena Williams on an elite list.

Elena Rybakina’s sheer dominance in Brisbane earns her a remarkable achievement

The tennis community was expecting a nail-biting encounter between the top two seeded players at the WTA 500 event. However, it turned out to be a one-sided affair, as Elena Rybakina outclassed Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match of the Brisbane International while she also pulled off a bagel, 6-0, 6-3.

As she only dropped three games, the Kazakhstani tennis star has now become only the third player since 2000 to do so against a top-three-ranked player in a WTA event title match. Before Rybakina, only the former tennis pros Serena Williams and Flavia Pennetta were the ones who managed to achieve this rare feat on the women’s tour.

This rare stat was recently brought to light by the official Twitter page of ‘OptaAce,’ which stated, “Since 2000, Elena Rybakina is only the third player to drop three games against a WTA top three player in a WTA event final, after Serena Williams (Australian Open 2007) and Flavia Pennetta (Indian Wells 2014). Relentless. #BrisbaneTennis |@BrisbaneTennis@WTA@WTA_insider”

3 – Since 2000, Elena Rybakina is only the third player to drop three games against a WTA top three player in a WTA event final, after Serena Williams (Australian Open 2007) and Flavia Pennetta (Indian Wells 2014). Relentless.#BrisbaneTennis | @BrisbaneTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/IY0pA9ZR5y
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 7, 2024

As she has clinched the title while pulling off a rare feat, let’s take a look at the current No. 1 Kazakh player’s triumphant campaign in Brisbane.

Rybakina’s title-winning run at the start of this new season

The former Grand Slam champion has started the new season with a bang. Rybakina started her campaign at the Brisbane International with a dominating straight-set win against Olivia Gadecki, 6-4, 6-1. In her next match, the Kazakh player then overcame her Belgian opponent Elise Mertens while scoring a bagel.

‘Feel Like I’m Not the Wimbledon Champion’- Elena Rybakina Blasts Top-Tier WTA Leadership for Not Recognizing Her Efforts

After being awarded a walkover in the quarterfinals, Rybakina later defeated Linda Nosková in the semifinal round. Continuing her ‘straight sets’ win streak, the current number 4 player won the title in style after outshining Sabalenka.

What do you think of the Kazakhstani tennis star joining Serena Williams on an elite list on the women’s tour? Let us know in the comments section.

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Written by:

Like millions of fans around the world, my foray into the world of tennis began after witnessing the incredible domination of the ?King of Clay? over the past decade. It was my passion for tennis that initially drew me to the dynamic field of sports journalism. My professional journey in sports journalism with EssentiallySports has seen me cover over 1000 articles, focusing on almost every ATP and WTA tournament, including Grand Slams.

Edited by:

Shudh.mukherjee