Elena Rybakina becomes first woman since Serena Williams at US Open 2020 to record at least 10 aces in 4 matches of the same tournament
Elena Rybakina has become the first woman since Serena Williams at the 2020 US Open to hit a minimum of 10 aces in four different matches in the same tournament. She has achieved the feat at the ongoing Miami Open.
Rybakina dominated Martina Trevisan on Tuesday, beating her 6-3, 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 event. The Kazakh, who saved a match point against Paula Badosa in the third round, has now won 12 consecutive matches, including a title run at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells earlier this month.
She also reached the final of the 2023 Australian Open, where Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set down to win the championship. Following her win on Tuesday, Rybakina improved her win-loss record for the season to 20-4.
The World No. 7's powerful serve is one of her biggest strengths, and a major reason for her recent success. She has delivered a total of 46 aces in her four matches so far on the medium-paced courts of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Rybakina has hit 201 aces overall this year, which is the highest among women.
The match against Anna Kalinskaya saw Rybakina serve 14 aces. She then sent down 12 against Badosa, 10 against Elise Mertens, and 10 against Trevisan.
4 - Elena Rybakina is the first female player to serve 10+ aces for four different matches in the same tournament since Serena Williams at the US Open 2020. Inspirational.
#MiamiOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider @MiamiOpen https://t.co/Ege666oipN
The last time a WTA player recorded a minimum of 10 aces in four matches in the same event was when Serena Williams did so at the 2020 US Open. The American legend hit 12 aces each against Kristie Ahn, Sloane Stephens, and Maria Sakkari before touching 20 against Tsvetana Pironkova.
However, Williams lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals of that tournament. Naomi Osaka went on to defeat two-time Major winner Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to clinch her third Grand Slam title.
Elena Rybakina says she is using the court-speed in Miami to her advantage while serving
Elena Rybakina finished with 39 aces in six matches to win the 2023 Indian Wells earlier in March. In comparison, she has already recorded 46 aces in just four matches at the 2023 Miami Open.
In a press conference after her quarterfinal victory, she was asked if the difference was due to the varied court speeds at the two venues or if she was putting more effort into her serve. The 10th seed agreed with both points, saying that she was looking to win free points due to the relative quickness of the court.
"I'm trying to go more [for the serve], but I think here, after the bounce, the ball is a bit faster. That's why I can get maybe more free points. But still, I would say that it's kind of returnable, but yeah, a bit faster than in Indian Wells," Elena Rybakina said.
Rybakina will face home favorite Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. The American leads the head-to-head against Rybakina 2-0, including a straight sets win at last year's Miami Open.