Iga Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina in their first meeting in 2021 in Ostrava (7-6, 6-2). But since that two-set victory, the current world number one has not won a set in three matches against the Kazakh.
The Wimbledon 2022 winner dominated the Pole in an exhibition match in Dubai at the end of last year (6-3, 6-1) before confirming her performance on the WTA Tour this season. Elena Rybakina won easily at the Australian Open (6-4, 6-4) and then at Indian Wells (6-2, 6-2), confirming her superiority.
In the latest episode of the Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou explains why Elena Rybakina’s game poses huge problems for Iga Swiatek, and makes a comparison with the clashes between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the men’s circuit.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE EYE OF THE COACH ON SWIATEK AND RYBAKINA
18″: Patrick Mouratoglou explains that if Iga Swiatek has lost three times in a row to Elena Rybakina, there is a tactical reason and a mental reason.
38″: The French coach draws a parallel with the men’s circuit and the clashes between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. One’s style of tennis posed more problems for another, and it is the same between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
50″ : In order to be comfortable, the Polish player needs to dictate the rallies and dominate the court, but against the Kazakh, she can’t do it.
1’10 : Elena Rybakina puts too much pressure on her on the return of serve and is very aggressive in the rallies: the perfect tactic to cause problems for the world No 1.
The Wimbledon 2022 winner dominated the Pole in an exhibition match in Dubai at the end of last year (6-3, 6-1) before confirming her performance on the WTA Tour this season. Elena Rybakina won easily at the Australian Open (6-4, 6-4) and then at Indian Wells (6-2, 6-2), confirming her superiority.
In the latest episode of the Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou explains why Elena Rybakina’s game poses huge problems for Iga Swiatek, and makes a comparison with the clashes between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the men’s circuit.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE EYE OF THE COACH ON SWIATEK AND RYBAKINA
18″: Patrick Mouratoglou explains that if Iga Swiatek has lost three times in a row to Elena Rybakina, there is a tactical reason and a mental reason.
38″: The French coach draws a parallel with the men’s circuit and the clashes between Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. One’s style of tennis posed more problems for another, and it is the same between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
50″ : In order to be comfortable, the Polish player needs to dictate the rallies and dominate the court, but against the Kazakh, she can’t do it.
1’10 : Elena Rybakina puts too much pressure on her on the return of serve and is very aggressive in the rallies: the perfect tactic to cause problems for the world No 1.
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Elena Rybakina's type of tennis is the nightmare for Iga Swiantek.
00:04 We've seen Iga lose now three times against Rybakina.
00:10 Clearly, she causes her problems.
00:12 I think there is, as often when this kind of situation happens,
00:17 there is a tactical reason and there is a mental reason.
00:20 When you lose several times in a row,
00:22 and in a way badly to one player,
00:25 you have this feeling that she's dangerous,
00:27 that she's better than you,
00:28 and it's always difficult to compete well against this player.
00:31 We've seen that in the past also on the men's side.
00:33 And it was interesting what was happening between Rafa, Roger and Novak,
00:37 because at some point, Novak was beating Rafa all the time,
00:41 Rafa was beating Roger all the time.
00:43 Roger and Novak were very close most of the time.
00:46 So that was interesting.
00:47 She needs to dominate in the rallies.
00:52 She needs to be on top of the rallies,
00:54 to dictate and be the boss on the court.
00:57 And she's hurt by Rybakina, both on her serve,
01:00 because Rybakina is very aggressive on Iga's second serve,
01:03 and she hurts her.
01:05 And Rybakina is serving extremely well.
01:07 Her first serve is extremely dangerous.
01:08 And then in the rallies, she doesn't move back.
01:10 She hits hard, she plays flat, she plays fast,
01:13 and she doesn't miss much.
01:14 That's why Iga is very much in trouble against Rybakina.
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