Adelaide, January 11, 2024, The Europe Today: Australian Open runner-up, Elena Rybakina, faced a surprising setback in the lead-up to the year’s inaugural Grand Slam, suffering a 6-3, 6-3 defeat at the hands of unseeded Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International on Thursday.
Despite Rybakina’s recent triumph over Melbourne Park champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane final, she struggled to find her rhythm against the determined world number 21, Alexandrova. Starting with a 4-0 deficit due to an error-laden beginning, Rybakina displayed resilience with formidable shot-making but was unable to fully recover.
Alexandrova, showcasing effective counter-punching, secured the opening set. The second set saw Rybakina falling further behind, attempting another comeback, yet Alexandrova’s tenacity prevailed. The defeat sets the stage for Rybakina’s upcoming clash with Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open, commencing on January 14.
