Kazakhstan tennis player Elena Rybakina clinched her second title of the year after defeating an injured Anhelina Kalinina in the final of the ongoing Italian Open on Sunday.
She overcame Anhelina Kalinina, who was injured, 6-4, 1-0, ret. Kalinina was forced to withdraw from the final because of a left thigh injury.
After rain disrupted play for much of the day, No.7 seed Rybakina won when No.30 seed Kalinina was unable to continue after 65 minutes. Rybakina had previously defeated Kalinina on the clay courts of Charleston last year.
Of course, happy with the title. Not the way I want to finish this match. It has been great, I think, results for Anhelina. She played some tough battles. I am really happy about her improvement. Hopefully, she can continue like this. Pity she could not finish the match. I hope that it is nothing serious. So hopefully she can recover quickly and she can continue like this, said Elena after the match as quoted by WTA.
Following her fifth career singles championship in Rome, reigning Wimbledon champion Rybakina is expected to move to World No.4 after this fortnight, marking her Top 5 debut in the WTA Tour singles rankings.
Rybakina, the runner-up at the Australian Open this year, is the first player to win two WTA 1000 titles this season, adding the Rome trophy to her Indian Wells success. Rybakina also made her third WTA 1000 final this year in Miami, and she is 19-2 in WTA 1000 competitions this year.