May 21, (THEWILL) – Elena Rybakina clinched the Italian Open title in a rather unusual fashion, as she claimed a walkover victory against Anhelina Kalinina.
The match was halted when Rybakina was leading 6-4, 1-0, as Kalinina retired due to an injury. It was a bittersweet moment for Kalinina, who was vying for her maiden WTA title in her second career final.
Throughout the tournament, the 30th seed Kalinina had been on a remarkable run, causing a series of upsets by defeating 11th seed Veronika Kudermetova, 12th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, and 19th seed Madison Keys. She made a promising start in the final, breaking Rybakina early on to take a 2-0 lead.
However, Rybakina made a strong comeback, breaking back and eventually securing the set by winning crucial points on Kalinina’s serve. Unfortunately, Kalinina’s heavily strapped left leg posed a major obstacle, and she valiantly attempted to continue playing in the second set. Yet, her injury proved too much to bear, and she was forced to retire after losing the opening game.
Despite the disappointment, Kalinina acknowledged that she still has room for improvement and is focused on honing her skills. In contrast, Rybakina’s triumph in Rome highlights her versatility on different surfaces, adding to her already impressive Wimbledon victory last year.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
