Rybakina Sets Up Highly Anticipated Final Clash With Swiatek At Qatar Open

Friday, 16 February 2024 at 16:44

byZachary Wimer

Elena Rybakina played another amazing match to take down Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets at the 2024 Qatar Open and set up the final showdown against Iga Swiatek.

Rybakina was going to be the first finalist of the Qatar Open, but thanks to Karolina Pliskova pulling out of the second semi-final against Iga Swiatek, the Kazakhstani player became the second known finalist of the WTA 1000 event.

She's a worthy finalist because she's been playing amazing tennis ever since she touched down in the Middle East. She won the Abu Dhabi Open last week and now put together another strong week to make her way to the final.

Pavlyuchenkova is a very solid tennis player but also one that doesn't really have much of an answer to what Rybakina does. Both are baseliners who like to attack aggressively, but the third seed in Doha is better at it and more consistent.

That's enough to really tip things in her favor, especially if she can bring it with her serve as well. In the first set, Rybakina largely did just that. She served pretty well, minimizing any chances for her opponent.

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The only break point Pavlyuchenkova did have was saved by the world no. 4 comfortably. On return, the Kazakhstani player would end up seeing enough chances and, by converting a few of them, was able to win the opening set 6-2.

The second set opened with an early break for Rybakina, and while Pavlyuchenkova had chances to break back not long after that, she didn't use them. It remained 3-1 for Rybakina and, not long after that, became 4-1 and then 5-1.

Rybakina was just too good for Pavlyuchenkova, and it will be very interesting to see whether Iga Swiatek will be able to stop her. That's the final fans will get in Doha as Rybakina cruised past Pavlyuchenkova in the semifinal 6-2, 6-4, despite losing some of her second-set lead.