(Montreal) After a difficult first set, Russian Liudmila Samsonova dominated Elena Rybakina and qualified for the women’s singles final of the National Bank Open with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory Sunday afternoon at the IGA stadium.
Posted at 3:44 p.m.
Michel Lamarche The Canadian Press
This final should begin at 5:30 p.m. on center court against American Jessica Pegula, ranked third in the world.
Pegula had earned her ticket to the ultimate match with her victory over Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek on Saturday afternoon.
Samsonova, ranked 18th in the world, needed an hour and 43 minutes to beat Rybakina for the third time in as many meetings, including one in Montreal in 2021.
However, the outcome of the first round would never have led to believe in such a scenario.
Rybakina needed just 28 minutes to complete the first set, winning the last five games.
After saving a break point in the third game, Rybakina scored a first break of service the next game with a straight forehand.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Elena Rybakina
Two games later, she accentuated her advantage thanks to one of her rival’s two double faults in the first set.
Rybakina ended that opening round with a backhand that Samsonova, who had approached at the net, chose to miss. The ball fell just inside the baseline.
However, the wind was going to change completely. Second on the WTA Tour for break point save percentage, Rybakina lost all three of his serve games in the second set, and the set, and another to start the deciding set.
This break at the start of the third set was enough for Samsonova, which did not prevent the Russian from collecting another one in the seventh game.
Samsonova then earned all four points on her serve, to secure her place at a Grand Final for the second time in 2023.
Meanwhile, on Rogers Court, Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara won their semi-final match, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) over Taiwan’s Latisha Chan and China’s Zhaoxuan Yang.
In the final, Sunday afternoon, they will cross swords with the duo formed by the American Desirae Krawczyk and the Dutch Demi Schuurs.
2023-08-13 19:44:30
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