Elena Rybakina is targeting consistency and staying fit over becoming world number one, for now.
Rybakina defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (13-11) 6-4 on Sunday to clinch the Indian Wells Open title.
It brought up a fourth singles title of her career, her maiden WTA 1000 trophy and her first success since winning Wimbledon last year.
Rybakina overcame Iga Swiatek in the last four, making her the first player since Garbine Muguruza at the 2017 Western & Southern Open to beat the world number one and two in the semi-finals and final of a single tournament.
The Kazakh will rise to world number seven after her success in the Californian desert, but when asked if the top of the rankings was her next target, Rybakina told Amazon Prime: "I'll try but first of all I just want to have the consistency, the most important thing is to stay healthy because it's still the beginning of the year.
"If I continue like this I have all the chance to be higher in the top 10, we'll see how it's going to go."
She added: "It feels amazing. I didn't expect two sets, I thought it would be a three-set battle. It wasn't easy, it was a bit windy, I lost the two games, I was getting nervous, but I managed to sort it out."
The two games Rybakina referred to came in the second set, when she went from 5-2 up to 5-4 before regaining her composure.
Rybakina had also come out on top in an almighty tussle in the first-set tie-break, with Sabalenka unable to then rediscover her best form during the second set.
Sunday's success marked Rybakina's first victory over Sabalenka – who she lost to in the final of this season's Australian Open – in five attempts.
Though Sabalenka is not planning on losing another one, as the Belarusian comically interjected during Rybakina's post-match on-court interview.
"I'll make sure it was the last one," Sabalenka quipped after Rybakina had explained "it was the first time it went my way" in a meeting with the 24-year-old.
"It's been always a pleasure to play against you and always the toughest battle," Rybakina continued.
"Hopefully I'll be back next year to defend this result."
Sabalenka was courteous in defeat, saying: "First of all Elena I want to congratulate you and your team on another amazing week. Hopefully we'll play in many more finals, hopefully next time it'll go to me!"
However, she was already focusing on putting the defeat behind her, with the Miami Open next up.
"For me it's quite easy. I think it's gonna stay in my head until tomorrow, and tomorrow we are flying to Miami and I will forget this one," she told reporters.
"The thing is helping me to stay focused and to keep winning is just to focus on myself and focus on the game and focus on things what I have to do on court to keep winning.
"This one was tough, especially in the finals, it's always tough to lose. You're one step to the trophy and you lose it. This one is really tough. But she's a great player."
The last five WTA titles at Indian Wells have now been won by players yet to turn 24, while Rybakina became the 25th female player to win the title.
Andy Murray confirms he will play at Surbiton again after skipping French Open
Andy Murray will return to action next week at the Lexus Surbiton Trophy.
As expected, having skipped the French Open to focus on his Wimbledon preparations, the former world number one has taken a wild card into the Challenger event.
Murray played the second-tier tournament, which always attracts a strong field, last year for the first time since 2004, losing in the semi-finals to Denis Kudla.
Murray said: “The LTA’s Lexus Surbiton Trophy is a great way for me to start my grass-court season. It’s nice to play somewhere that has the feel of a traditional club and I’m hoping to get some good matches and practice in there during the week in front of the British fans.”
Dan Evans is a more surprise inclusion having said following his first-round defeat in Paris to Thanasi Kokkinakis that he would not be seeking a Surbiton wild card.
Evans will also headline the Challenger event in Nottingham the following week, when Murray is more likely to play at the ATP tournament in Stuttgart, where he reached the final last year.
Venus Williams, meanwhile, will make her return to the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham having played there for the first time in 2019.
The 42-year-old has not played a tournament since January but is giving the grass another go and will return to action in the Netherlands at the Libema Open beginning on June 12.
Cameron Norrie hoping to have Jon Bon Jovi’s support at Wimbledon
Cameron Norrie still has business to attend to at the French Open but the British number one is looking forward to having celebrity backing at Wimbledon this summer.
Norrie could hardly be described as a rock and roll tennis player but he revealed an unlikely friendship earlier this year when he hit with singing superstar Jon Bon Jovi.
Bon Jovi watched Norrie in Miami and the 27-year-old is hoping to see him in his player box at the All England Club.
View this post on Instagram
“It was so cool to play with him,” said Norrie, whose girlfriend knows one of Bon Jovi’s sons.
“He is really liking tennis more and more, and I think he’s going to make an appearance at Wimbledon and come watch. So it’s cool to see him enjoying it. To meet him and to hang out with him was great.
“I’m not really the biggest of his fans. Obviously I respect his music and I know a lot of his songs. It’s cool to see him getting involved in tennis and liking it. He’s playing almost every day.
“I’ll hopefully see him hitting some balls over Wimbledon time. I’m sure he’ll be enjoying Wimbledon. I think he has a couple of shows planned in British summertime as well.”
Norrie will try to break new ground at Roland Garros on Friday when he takes on talented young Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.
The British number one is through to this stage for the third year in a row but has never been further, and to do so he must reverse the result of a clash on clay in Barcelona a few weeks ago.
“I was playing at such a high level with him and I lost a bit of concentration and a bit of focus, and my level dropped a lot, but I was able to figure out ways to win points,” said Norrie of 21-year-old Musetti.
“I think I have a pretty decent game to play him but I’m going to have to play really, really well. His best surface is clay and he’s had a lot of really tough matches.
“He took Djokovic to five here, so he can play well. I think it’s a really tough draw and I’m really going to have to play my best with him to have a chance. He beat me in the last one so, good guy, good third round. I’m expecting a tough match.”
While Musetti represents a step up from his previous opponents, Norrie will no doubt be relieved not to have to take on the French crowd again after his victories over Benoit Paire and Lucas Pouille.
The Paire clash was a five-set rollercoaster but Norrie lost only seven games against Pouille and played down concerns over the strapping under his left knee.
“In the first round with Benoit, I hit a smash at the back of the court early in the second set and I felt it a little bit,” he said.
“I think as tennis players we’re dealing with a few niggles here and there. I’ve been working hard with my team to make sure I’m getting my body as ready as possible.
“I was able to play with no problem, so it was a good sign. I was really happy with how I moved and reacted and returned and made a lot of first balls. It definitely didn’t hinder my performance at all.”
While Norrie has been the only British singles player remaining in Paris since Monday, representation in the doubles is still going strong.
Jamie Murray and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus moved through to the third round with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Thursday.
Murray linked up with Venus following the retirement of his former partner Bruno Soares last year and the pair have already won three titles together, including in Geneva last week.
“We did really well,” said Murray. “I think we played a really good match. We knew we’d have to play well to get those guys. I’ve played them so many times.
“We did a lot of good things today so I’m happy. I’m excited about where the team is right now and where we can get to.”
Emma Raducanu splits with coach Sebastian Sachs after less than six months
Emma Raducanu has split with her coach of less than six months Sebastian Sachs.
Raducanu only appointed the former German player in mid-December, but she has announced a parting of the ways.
“I have really enjoyed Seb’s coaching and working with him, it’s unfortunate that circumstances made it unfeasible for both of us to continue right now and we have decided to part ways. I wish Seb all the best moving forwards,” Raducanu tweeted.
The 2021 US Open champion is currently sidelined and could miss the entire grass-court season following surgery on her wrists and ankle.
Sachs was her fifth coach in two years, following Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursunov.
The 31-year-old coached Swiss player Belinda Bencic when she won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
His brief stint with Raducanu included the Australian Open in January, but their partnership is now over.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
