Rybakina wins Italian Open

Final day in Rome.

2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, a WTA 1000 tournament, on Clay, in Rome, Italy, 8-21 May 2023.

Defending champion:

Iga Swiatek (1) who defeated Ons Jabeur (9) 6-2 6-2

Final:

Elena Rybakina (7) (Kazakhstan) v Anhelina Kalinina (30) (Ukraine)

Kalinina won the only previous meeting between the players - a second round match in Charleston, April last year.

This was the first final at WTA 1000 level for Kalinina.

In the opening game of this final, Rybakina saved two break points, but double faulted on the third and Kalinina led 1-0.

Kalinina saved two break points in the fourth game before extending her lead to 3-1.

Rybakina broke back in the sixth game to level at 3-3 and Kalinina saved four break points before levelling at 4-4.

Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Kalinina led 40-15.

However, Rybakina won the next three points, one with an unlucky bad bounce giving Kalinina no chance.

The set point was saved, but two winning backhands in the next two points from Rybakina sealed the set 6-4.

Rybakina held serve easily in the opening game of set two, but it was apparent that Kalinina was suffering, and the Ukrainian sadly retired from the final with a leg injury.

Elena Rybakina was the winner 6-4 1-0 (retired).

Title number two for the year, both at WTA 1000 level, and a new career high ranking of #4.