Roland Garros / French Open [Women] - Grand Slam

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena and Elena are on court warming up
Serena's upper right leg heavily taped,hope this does not hamper her movement

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It has been a dialed in start from Elena,breaks Serena early and consolidates leads 4-1
Pavs in the crowd with her brother who is also her coach watching this match with interest,Pavs plays the winner.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

2 DFs in her service game from Elena,Serena has a BP
Good change of direction from Elena with the BH,Serena slips over on court
Serena with 2nd BP wrong footed Elena
First ace from Elena,good time of her service game
Serena with her 3rd BP good return of serve
Serena breaks and we are back on serve

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena with a good fhand down the line breaks Serena and will serve for the 1st set 5-3
Elena getting Serena off balance,going behind Serena
Elena with a DF....deuce
Elena with a winner fh down the line
Elena SP No 4
Elena wins the 1st set 63 in 35 mins.

Serena W 6 UFE 8 Elena W 9 UFE 6

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Let’s see if Serena can turn this around. I do like that Serena is actually fighting back when the chips are down.

 

[don_fabio]

Elena with a good fhand down the line breaks Serena and will serve for the 1st set 5-3
Elena getting Serena off balance,going behind Serena
Elena with a DF....deuce
Elena with a winner fh down the line
Elena SP No 4
Elena wins the 1st set 63 in 35 mins.

Is Rybakina the same girl that took out Osaka in Wimbledon 2 years ago?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Is Rybakina the same girl that took out Osaka in Wimbledon 2 years ago?

Osaka was taken out in the 1st rd at Wimbledon 2019 by Yulia Putintseva

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Back on serve early in the 2nd set,so far Elena has absorbed the pace of Serena,though Serena has won 9 of the last 10 points

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena has been so flat footed especially when her opponent returns serve.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena with 2 BPs,Elena breaks again with a little help from the net cord
To me she is keeping Serena off balance at the baseline,going behind Serena and it is working

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena gets so sloppy when she gets in trouble. Slow down and work the point.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena breaks back,with a wild fh from Elena more UFE
Serena needs to take her time as there is no need to rush her shots
4 games all

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena hits a fh winner down the line,she is a clean ball striker
Serena needed that Ace
Wild BH and Serena holds and leads 5-4

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I will say it is good to see Serena really fighting in a match. She’s starting to find her competitive spirit again when the chips are down.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Good service game from Elena
5 games all

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brillent angle return winner from Elena!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena with a DF
Elena has 3 BPs....Elena has been returning Serena's serve well

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena breaks Serena to love
Elena will serve for the match 6-5

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena has the biggest win of her career defeating Serena Williams 63 75
Well done Elena!!!!!!!!!!!

Serena will be disappointed but she has good match fitness for the grass.

Elena W 21 UFE 13 Serena W 15 UFE 19

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena Rybakina will play Pavs in her first q/final in a Grand Slam.
I also loved the fact she held her composure throughout the match against Serena,she really return the serve of Serena well,is comfortable at the net,a clean striker of the ball,especially on her fh wing and can change direction well.Elena deserved her win.