WTA news: Shock result as Elena Rybakina thumps Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells semi-finals

Elena Rybakina breezed through world number one Iga Swiatek 6-2 6-2 to secure a place in the women's final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

The 10th-ranked Kazakh made it two wins this season against Swiatek in a dominating display, following on from her fourth-round victory over the Pole at the Australian Open.

Rybakina was in control from the outset, consolidating an early break to race out to a 3-0 lead before claiming the first set in just 36 minutes.

The reigning Wimbledon champion was even more impressive in the second set.

She took just 20 minutes to build a 4-0 lead, before Swiatek was finally able to mount some resistance by holding serve at 5-1.

Swiatek claimed her first break of the match in the following game, but it was ultimately not enough as Rybakina went on to clinch a resounding victory.

"With Iga, she's tough, really tough opponent, but when I play this good and everything goes in - because today some moments I played, I would say, on my highest level - [these are] moments where you can feel, okay, I can beat anyone if I always play like this," Rybakina said after the match.

"But it's the goal, you never feel amazing and perfect every match. I think today it was just really good from me."

The result sets up a repeat of the Australian Open final, after Aryna Sabalenka cruised to a 6-2 6-3 victory over world number seven Maria Sakkari in their semi-final clash.

Sabalenka edged Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 in Melbourne in January to earn her first major title.

"I think [the key will be] just to play better in these important moments and hold the serve, because I think a few times it was just because of one break," Rybakina added. It's gonna be not an easy match, and it's gonna be in these clutch moments I just need to play better. Hopefully now it's gonna change the score between us."

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/tennis/news/wta-news-shock-result-elena-rybakina-thumps-iga-swiatek-indian-wells-semi-finals">WTA news: Shock result as Elena Rybakina thumps Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells semi-finals </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>