4th player in the world, the Kazakh was surprised in the 3rd round by the Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
The Kazakh Elena Rybakina was eliminated Friday in the third round of the US Open by the Romanian Sorana Cirstea (30th) in three sets (6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4). “I am very, very happy“said Cirstea, visibly very moved. “I had lost both times against her and I knew it would be very difficult. So I’m glad my work is paying off. She is a very great player, it is not for nothing that she is world number 4. But I gave it my all and I think I deserve this victory“.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner ends the Grand Slam season with her best result a losing final at the Australian Open in January. She then lost in the third round at Roland Garros and in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. For her part, Cirstea, who had never ped the third round at Flushing Meadows, will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic (13th) for a place in the quarterfinals.
Rybakina was betrayed by her serve: her lethal weapon jammed and only allowed her to serve three aces for four double faults, including one on match point. She ped only 55% of her first balls and conceded six times her face-off. In the exchange either, her power did not lead her to anything. She managed 30 winning strokes but committed 56 unforced errors, when her opponent put 33 winning strokes for 42 unforced errors.
After the equalizer to a set all, Rybakina looked like they could turn things around. But very quickly, they found themselves trailing 4-0. She came back from behind with her double break to come back at 4-3, but Cirstea then took over the service of the Kazakh and served herself for the match in stride. In a final burst, Rybakina unbroken and served to equalize at 5-5, but she was betrayed one last time by her serve.