Elena Rybakina fired seven aces in routing top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to advance to the BNP Paribas Open ultimate.
Rybakina will play second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3, in Sunday’s ultimate within the Southern California wasteland.
“It’s going to be huge,” mentioned Sabalenka, who received the doubles identify in 2019. “This match looks like a Grand Slam. I truly need to grasp this trophy as a singles champion.”
Rybakina wanted simply 76 mins to complete off Swiatek, the protecting champion. She received 82% of her first serve issues. Rybakina additionally beat the Polish megastar on the Australian Open in January on her option to completing runner-up.
Swiatek had received 10 instantly suits within the wasteland till being stopped Friday.
Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, stepped forward to 17-1 this yr.
Sabalenka took keep an eye on in opposition to Sakkari, seeded 7th, from the beginning. She attacked the Greek’s moment serve, profitable 20 of 26 issues off it. Sakkari, runner-up in remaining yr’s ultimate, fell to 3-5 in her occupation in opposition to Sabalenka.
Sakkari reached the semifinals via rallying from a collection down 3 times and going 4–0 in deciding units.
But Sabalenka used to be too dominant. She received the overall 3 video games, together with two serves, to take the primary set, 6–2.
Sabalenka led 2–0 in the second one earlier than Sakkari tied it 2–all. From there, Sabalenka received 4 of the overall 5 video games to near out the fit in 1 1/2 hours.
“Just super happy right now,” Sabalenka mentioned on court docket. “Maria’s such a great player and I knew it was going to be tough.”
