By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, February 8, 2024
Top-seeded Elena Rybakina used a five-game run to rally past qualifier Danielle Collins 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 into the Abu Dhabi quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Facebook
Life at the top can be an unsettling experience for some.
Top-seeded Elena Rybakina spent a set finding her footing then showed strong closing kick in Abu Dhabi.
More: Richard Evans Q&A
Rybakina reeled off four of the final four games rallying past qualifier Danielle Collins 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open quarterfinals today.
In just her second tournament as a top seed, Rybakina converted six of 12 break points defeating Collins for the third time in four meetings. Their last three encounters—at the 2023 Adelaide and 2023 Australian Open—have gone three sets with Rybakina growing sharper as each match progressed.
“It was a really tough battle,” Rybakina told Monica Puig in her on-court interview. “I always play such a tough matches with Danielle. I’m really happy I managed to win in three sets.
“It went quick, especially the first set with just one serve I didn’t hold. I was just trying to find my game. Conditions are tough—it’s a bit slow—so not easy but I'm really happy with the win.”
The victory vaults Rybakina into her second quarterfinal of the season.
The Brisbane champion improved to 8-2 on the season and will face either 74th-ranked Spaniard Cristina Bucsa or British baseliner Heather Watson for a semifinal spot.
Spare a thought for Collins, who announced last month that 2024 will be her farewell season on the WTA Tour.
In her last two tournaments, Collins has drawn Grand Slam champions in each of the first two rounds. Collins beat former No. 1 Angelique Kerber then pushed world No. 1 Iga Swiatek to three sets at the Australian Open. Collins conquered former No. 1 Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-0 in her Abu Dhabi opener.
A confident Collins was slamming back returns earning triple break point in the fifth game. Collins cracked a crosscourt forehand breaking at 30 for a 3-2 lead.
Collins won eight of the next nine points played on her serve stretching her lead to 5-4. Serving for the set, Collins fended off two break points to seal a one-set lead.
The pair traded breaks to start the second set and exchanged breaks again in the fifth and sixth games.
Reigning in her targets, Rybakina was driving through the ball with conviction as she began controlling the center of the court and winning pivotal points.
From a set and 2-3 down, Rybakina won five games in a row, snatching the second set and going up a break in the third set.
Tugging on her visor, Collins answered with a six-point surge breaking back and holding at love for a 2-1 lead in the decider.
That was really Collins’ last stand. Rybakina held at love then broke again for 3-2.
Securing serve with confidence the rest of the set, Rybakina hammered a pair of backhand winners to close the match with her sixth break.
“For me it was good to get some extra days to practice and to prepare,” said Rybakina, who arrived on site last Thursday.” Of course I was waiting for my match.
“As I said, first match is always tough, especially against such a good player. I’m just happy to get through and play another one tomorrow.”
Stealth sharpshooter Liudmila Samsonova continues to tear through the draw.
The 2022 Abu Dhabi finalist, Samsonova shredded 32nd-ranked Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-1, 6-3.
Samsonova served just 33 percent, but won 14 of 16 first-serve points, saved three of four break points and hit some heavy forehand strikes. The victory comes one round after Samsonova steamrolled Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-1.
Next up for Samsonova is a quarterfinal clash vs. 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The fourth-seeded Krejcikova led lucky loser Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 1-0 when the Spaniard retired with an apparent right thumb injury.
The Samsonova-Krejcikova match is a rematch of the 2023 Abu Dhabi round of 16, which Samsonova won 7-5, 7-6(6).