Elena Rybakina has defended Iga Swiatek’s form this season as the Kazakh looks to end her season strongly at the WTA Finals.
It’s just over two weeks until the WTA season comes to a close at the WTA Finals which takes place in Cancun, Mexico.
Eight of the world’s best players will fight for the title with defending champion Caroline Garcia failing to qualify this year.
One of the players who will be in Mexico though is Elena Rybakina after the Kazakh reached a Grand Slam final as well as winning two titles in Indian Wells and Rome.
Rybakina’s season maybe hasn’t been to her standards but it has still been a consistent season for the former Wimbledon champion who also had to battle illness.
That means Rybakina can relate to Iga Swiatek who has had some criticism this season having not maintained the high standards she achieved in 2022 as well as losing her world number one ranking.
However speaking to the Tennis Channel, Rybakina has defended Swiatek as she praised the Pole, “She’s a really tough opponent,” Rybakina, who has a 3-1 head-to head record, said about Swiatek.
“I know every point is going to be difficult because she’s fighting and running a lot. She’s so consistent throughout the year. Last year and even now I think it was great results. Just a tough opponent.”
Rybakina is the second player to defend her season after Coco Gauff praised Swiatek’s season in Beijing.
Rybakina, Gauff and Swiatek will now all focus their attention on the WTA Finals as they join Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Marketa Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova and Ons Jabeur in Mexico.
The WTA Finals will start on the 29th of October as Rybakina looks to win her third title of the season.
Elena Rybakina’s 2023 Season
Adelaide 1: R2 (l. Kostyuk)
Adelaide 2: R1 (l. Kvitova)
Australian Open: Final (l. Sabalenka)
Abu Dhabi: Quarter-Final (l. Haddad Maia)
Dubai: R3 (Withdrew)
Indian Wells: Champion
Miami: Final (l. Kvitova)
Stuttgart: R2 (l. Niemeier)
Madrid: R2 (l. Kalinskaya)
Rome: Champion
Roland Garros: R3 (Withdrew)
Berlin: R2 (l. Vekic)
Wimbledon: Quarter-Finals (l. Jabeur)
Montreal: Semi-Finals (l. Samsonova)
Cincinnati: R3 (l. Paolini)
US Open: R3 (l. Cirstea)
Beijing: Semi-Finals (l. Samsonova)
