Google News Iga Swiatek fails to close out Elena Rybakina match, then sustains concerning injury
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 10728
Iga Swiatek has suffered a setback just 11 days before the start of the French Open as the Pole seemingly picked up a thigh injury during her Rome match against Elena Rybakina. Up by a set and a break and having a chance to go up by a double break, Swiatek appeared to be heading toward a comfortable straight-set win over Rybakina in her Rome quarterfinal match.
But Rybakina refused to quit as she got the break back and managed to force a second-set tie-break. In the second-set tie-break, Swiatek appeared to hurt her right knee. After losing the second-set tie-break and taking an off-court medical timeout, Swiatek returned to the court with her right thigh strapped.
The commentators initially thought Swiatek picked up a knee injury before realizing that the Pole contracted a thigh injury. Swiatek played four more games before calling it a match and deciding it was the best for her to retire the match.
Swiatek failed to end her losing streak against Rybakina
At the World Tennis League in December, Rybakina destroyed Swiatek with a 6-3 6-1 score. At the Australian Open, Rybakina ousted Swiatek in the round-of-16 6-4 6-4 score.
In March, Swiatek suffered another straight-set loss to Rybakina when the Kazakh handed her a 6-2 6-2 loss in Indian Wells. After picking up three consecutive straight-set defeats to Rybakina on hard, Swiatek entered their Rome match determined to end her losing streak against the Kazakh.
Swiatek started the match strongly as she won the first set by winning the first set with a 6-2 score. In the second set, Swiatek had a 4-2 lead and a chance to go up by a double break. But Rybakina saved Swiatek's break point in the seventh game and managed to get the break back in the eighth game to tie the second set to four games apiece.
Swiatek then missed out on three break points in the ninth game and two more break points in the 11th game as Rybakina managed to force a tie-break. In the second-set tie-break, Swiatek suffered a thigh injury and Rybakina managed to win the tie-break to force a tie-break Four games into the third set, Swiatek and Rybakina were tied to two games apiece but the Pole's movement was limited and it was clear that she was hampered by an injury.
After Rybakina served out the fourth game to tie the third set to two games apiece, Swiatek went to the net and that was the end of the match.
