Rybakina Feels She Can Beat Anyone After Downing World No. 1 Swiatek

Saturday, 18 March 2023 at 16:30

Updated at Tuesday, 11 March 2025 at 16:58

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byErik Virostko

Elena Rybakina feels very confident after beating Iga Swiatek to reach the final at the Indian Wells Open.

Swiatek has been the undisputed World No. 1 on the WTA Tour for almost a year, and she was one of the favorites to win this year's Indian Wells Open. But she was stunned by a very inspired Rybakina, who beat her 6-2, 6-2, to reach the final in the Californian desert.

Rybakina is a former Wimbledon champion, and she likely doesn't lack confidence, but after beating the Pole, she admitted that the win over Swiatek gave her even more confidence, making her believe that she can beat anyone.

"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, OK, I can beat anyone if I always play like this. But it's the goal, you never feel amazing and perfect every match. I think today it was just really good from me."

In the final, Rybakina will play against Aryna Sabalenka, who beat her in this year's Australian Open final. The Kazakhstani player knows what to expect from her opponent, and she's ready to get her revenge.

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"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. 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."

During her press conference, Rybakina admitted that she was impressed by her own level, as even she didn't expect to play as well as she did. She hopes to repeat the level in the final.

"I would say I didn't expect that I was going to play that good today. Yesterday was a really tough match. I had nothing to lose. I just wanted to come and enjoy and it really went my way. I played really one of the best matches this year. I was really pleased with the game and hopefully, I'm going to play like this on Sunday."