© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Elena Rybakina lifted her second WTA title of the year in Abu Dhabi but afterward surprisingly revealed that she came to the United Arab Emirates “without expectations.”
Rybakina, seeded at No. 1, ousted seventh-seeded Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-4 in the Abu Dhabi final. After winning her sixth WTA title in the opening week of the season at the Brisbane International, Rybakina has now also won her seventh title in Abu Dhabi.
Early in the first set, Rybakina broke Kasatkina in the second game but got broken back instantly in the following game. However, blowing an early break didn’t impact Rybakina, who claimed back-to-back breaks in the fourth and sixth games to win four games in a row and win the first game in style.
Early in the second set, Rybakina was twice up by a break but Kasatkina both times managed to get the break back as the two players were tied to three games apiece after the opening six games of the set. But after earning her third break of the second set for a 5-4 lead, Rybakina managed to serve out for the match in the following game and complete a two-set win over Kasatkina.
Rybakina’s admission after her Abu Dhabi win
“I was…
