A highly anticipated match between two Grand Slam champions concluded Friday`s schedule at the Mutua Madrid Open. The No. 10 seed, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, emerged victorious over Canada`s Bianca Andreescu with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 scoreline in the final match held on Manolo Santana Stadium.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, secured the win in 1 hour and 17 minutes against the 2019 US Open champion Andreescu. Although it was their first encounter in over two years, the result maintained their historical record: Rybakina now leads the head-to-head 3-0 against Andreescu, having won all six sets they`ve played.
Here are some key points from the clash between these major titleholders:
Analyzing the Numbers
Earlier in the week, Rybakina briefly dropped out of the Top 10 in the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time since January 2023. She is currently ranked No. 11 and is defending 390 ranking points earned from her semifinal run in Madrid last year.
This strong performance from the previous year provides Rybakina with confidence as she navigates the current clay season. Her clay-court form in 2023/early 2024 was notably impressive, including winning the title in Stuttgart, reaching the semifinals here in Madrid, and advancing to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, compiling a 12-2 record on the surface. This recent victory marks a solid start to her 2024 clay campaign.
Despite being widely recognized for her success on faster courts, Rybakina has consistently demonstrated her ability to perform and win on clay, adding another victory to her record on the surface.
Aggressive Play Pays Off
Rybakina effectively utilized her powerful game style in her match against Andreescu. While the Canadian attempted to play aggressively by stepping inside the baseline, it was Rybakina who more frequently took control of rallies.
In the first set, Rybakina recorded more unforced errors (16) than winners (8), compared to Andreescu`s three winners and 10 unforced errors. However, Rybakina`s error count decreased as the opening set progressed, allowing her to win the final three games and take the lead.
Rybakina`s potent serve was particularly effective, preventing Andreescu from creating many break point opportunities. She faced only three break points throughout the match, all in the second set, and successfully saved each one. Rybakina won an impressive 80 percent of points when her first serve landed in.
A Positive Return for Bianca
Bianca Andreescu, whose career has been significantly impacted by injuries since her breakthrough season in 2019, can still take encouragement from her first-round win over Top 50 player McCartney Kessler. That victory was her first on tour since last October.
The former World No. 4 has played only two tournaments so far this season. She plans to continue her participation in the clay-court swing, with entries confirmed for events in Rome and at Roland Garros. Like in Madrid, she is utilizing her protected injury ranking to gain direct entry into the main draws of these upcoming tournaments.
Facing a Top 20 Player Next
In a featured third-round matchup, Rybakina is scheduled to face the No. 17 seed, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. This presents a significant challenge for Rybakina, especially considering that the former World No. 3 Svitolina recently claimed her 18th career title on clay just last Sunday in Rouen. Rybakina holds a narrow 3-2 head-to-head lead against Svitolina overall, with their record on clay currently tied at 1-1.
