She defeated the defending champion Iga Świątek and was the favorite in Sunday’s final. Elena Rybakina became the new champion of the WTA 500 indoor competition in Stuttgart. In the decisive match, she did not give any chance to Ukrainian Marta Kostiuk.
Rafał Smoliński
April 21, 2024, 14:19
PAP/EPA / RONALD WITTEK / In the photo: Jelena Rybakina Jelena Rybakina (WTA 4) and Marta Kostiuk (WTA 27) met in Sunday’s final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2024 tournament. These are two tennis players who have known each other since their junior days. Kazaszka was the favorite of the fight and she certainly played her role. After an hour and 9 minutes, she won decisively 6:2, 6:2.
Rybakina didn’t wait. Already in the first game she started attacking and scored a break. Then she could have improved the score to 3-0, but Kostiuk saved the break point. The Ukrainian was unable to return to the game. In the seventh game, she lost her serve again, and after the change of ends, Kazaszka immediately finished the premiere game, which lasted only half an hour.
At the beginning of the second set, the situation from the first set repeated itself. Kostiuk was helpless and returned the serve with a double fault. Rybakina had only one moment of weakness in the second part of the fight. In the sixth game, the Ukrainian had three break points, but she did not use any of these opportunities. After a while, Kazazka scored another break and was already leading 5:2. After changing sides, she finished the match with the fourth match ball.
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Seed fourth, Rybakina became the new champion of the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart. This is her eighth trophy in the main series and the third one this season. In 2024, she was also the best in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi and reached the finals of the competition in Doha and Miami.
The winning Rybakina received 500 ranking points and a check for PLN 123.4 thousand. euro and a Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo car. In Monday’s world rankings, it will strengthen its fourth position.
Kostiuk suffered her second defeat against Rybakina in the main series (balance 1-2). The representative of our eastern neighbors did not win her second tour championship. Last season she was the best in Austin, and this year she reached the finals in San Diego. The Ukrainian can still be proud of her performance in Stuttgart. Thanks to the points won here, he will move to the highest position in his career, 21st place.
The winners of the doubles tournament were also announced on Sunday. The winners were Hao-Ching Chan and Weronika Kudermetowa, who defeated the Norwegian-Estonian pair of Ulrikke Eikeri and Ingrid Neel 4:6, 6:3, 10-2. For the Taiwanese, this is the 21st doubles championship in the main series competition. Her Russian partner was happy with her eighth trophy.
Porsche Tennis Grand PrixStuttgart (Germany)
WTA 500, indoor clay court, prize pool of PLN 780.6 thousand. dollars
Sunday, April 21
singles final:
Jelena Rybakina (Kazakhstan, 4) – Marta Kostiuk (Ukraine) 6:2, 6:2
doubles final:
Hao-Ching Chan (Taiwan) / Weronika Kudermetowa – Ulrikke Eikeri (Norway) / Ingrid Neel (Estonia) 4:6, 6:3, 10-2
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