By Chris Oddo | Saturday July 8, 2017
Magdalena Rybarikova rolled past Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets to reach the second week at Wimbledon for the first time.
Every facet of Magdalena Rybarikova’s game has crystalized into a work of tennis poetry worthy of a museum wall. She’s hitting the ball cleanly, moving flawlessly and making decisions with a free-flowing confidence that is the product of having won 16 of 17 matches on grass this summer.
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On Saturday at Wimbledon Rybarikova did not to stop her burgeoning momentum. She dispatched Lesia Tsurenko, 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes to book a round of 16 clash with either Petra Martic or Zarina Diyas.
The woman who smashed the draw wide open by defeating No.3-seeded Karolina Pliskova on Centre Court on Day 4 just might benefit from her own handiwork, as she’ll enter Monday’s clash as the favorite based on form.
Rybarikova won 68 of 110 points on No.18-court on Saturday, as a packed crowd filled the seats and lined up along the overhang that lines the west side of the court.
They weren't there for very long, and never got the drama they might have wanted, but Rybarikova was more than happy to deprive them of their kicks.
It was another dominant, and unlikely, performance for the 28-year-old. She won 17 of 19 second-serve return points and broke serve six times on ten opportunities. The Slovakian won all 13 points at net and committed just eight unforced errors (7 forehand) against 20 winners.
It’s been a truly remarkable grass-court season for Rybarikova, especially when one considers that she entered this year’s Wimbledon draw with a 2-9 lifetime record.
After missing the second half of 2016 due to wrist and knee surgery, Rybarikova appears to have found a new lease on life.
And from the looks of things, her run is set to continue.