Elena Rybakina produced a commanding performance to dismantle Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2 and advance to the fourth round of the French Open. The Kazakhstani 12th seed, known for her clean and powerful ball-striking, overwhelmed the 2017 Roland Garros champion in just over an hour, barely giving Ostapenko a chance to impose her aggressive style of play. This victory sets up a tantalizing encounter with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, a player with whom she shares a balanced head-to-head record.
Rybakina’s win comes on the heels of her recent title in Strasbourg, marking a strong resurgence after a challenging year marred by illness and personal setbacks. She had once climbed as high as No. 3 in the rankings and was considered a top contender alongside Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. However, her past 12 months were disrupted not only by health issues but also controversy surrounding her coaching situation.
Her long-time coach, Stefano Vukov, was suspended for a year by the WTA after an investigation found he had been verbally abusive, violating the organization’s code of conduct. While banned from official events, Rybakina continues to train with him outside of competition, indicating their professional relationship remains intact despite the sanction.
Ostapenko, who famously won the French Open as an unseeded teenager in 2017, had hoped to set up a seventh meeting with Swiatek, whom she has remarkably beaten six times without defeat. Her record against the Pole has become a notable anomaly in women’s tennis, with her aggressive style consistently troubling Swiatek. However, against Rybakina, she had no answers as the Kazakhstani dictated the pace and dominated from the baseline.
The Rybakina-Swiatek clash now looms as one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the tournament. With their head-to-head record standing at 4-4, the match is finely poised. Rybakina’s powerful serve and flat groundstrokes can effectively neutralize Swiatek’s strong return game and agility. While Swiatek has a more consistent clay-court pedigree, including three consecutive titles at Roland Garros, Rybakina’s recent form and her ability to shorten points may pose a significant threat.
Swiatek secured her place in the fourth round with a straight-sets victory over Jaqueline Cristian, extending her winning streak at the French Open to 24 matches. Though tested in the second set, she managed to hold firm and close out the match 6-2, 7-5, continuing her dominant form on clay.
In other matches, Aryna Sabalenka progressed comfortably into the second week with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Olga Danilovic. Sabalenka, the tournament’s second seed, expressed relief at not being the center of attention, stating she was content to let Swiatek handle the pressure of being the favorite.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz faced his first real test of the tournament but eventually prevailed against Damir Dzumhur. After taking a two-set lead, Alcaraz dropped the third and trailed in the fourth before rallying to win 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The defending champion will now meet American Ben Shelton in the fourth round.
With the second week approaching, storylines continue to develop. The high-profile Rybakina-Swiatek showdown could be decisive in determining this year’s champion, while Alcaraz and Sabalenka remain solid contenders in their respective draws.
