Iga Swiatek admits to service struggles after Elena Rybakina loss in Stuttgart - 'I doubted my serve'

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 21/04/2024 at 10:11 GMT

Iga Swiatek saw her winning streak at the Stuttgart Open come to an end after losing to Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals. Swiatek admitted afterwards that she started to "doubt" her serve in a match where she faced 20 break points. She also spoke about if there's a "specific" area of Rybakina's game that makes her such a challenging opponent for her to face.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek admitted service struggles were at the heart of her Stuttgart Open semi-final loss to Elena Rybakina.

Swiatek was aiming for an 11th straight victory in Stuttgart and a third title in a row.

However, Rybakina pressured Swiatek's serve throughout the match, creating 20 break-point chances and converting four of them.

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In the third set, Swiatek saved eight break points in a row before Rybakina took her ninth and went on to improve her head-to-head record against the world No. 1 to 4-2.

"I doubted my serve a little bit in the third set," admitted Swiatek afterwards.

"I'll try to not have situations like that but for sure it wasn't easy to see her winning her service games pretty easily and me struggling basically on every game.

"I think at the end it also made a difference, but I was trying to get better. Maybe I just need more practice or something.

"It was just this kind of day where I served worse. I'll try to be more consistent.

"She served better, I didn't serve well in the third set. That's a shame but at least I know what I can work on and we will focus on that."

• Rybakina beat Swiatek to reach Stuttgart final
• Muguruza announces retirement from tennis

Rybakina has now won four of the last five meetings against Swiatek.

Asked what it is about Rybakina that makes her such a challenging opponent, Swiatek said: "There's not one specific thing.

"Probably me, Aryna [Sabalenka] and her are the best players on tour honestly and she has struggled with some injuries but every time she is healthy she is playing well.

"There are specific aspects of her game that are hard but I wouldn't say there is one specific thing. She is a good player, that is all."

Rybakina is into her fifth final of the season, where she will face unseeded Marta Kostyuk.

Rybakina has already won titles in Adelaide and Abu Dhabi and is the first player to reach five finals in the first four months of the season since Victoria Azarenka in 2012.

Reflecting on how she matches up against Swiatek, she said: "I think it's just the style of the game.

"Iga, she moves really well and she likes to dominate in the rally, with me, it's difficult because I play fast, I play flatter, and also like to move the opponent.

"So it's kind of a match-up where we are both pushing each other, both trying to dominate in the point. So I think of course also my serve helps a lot.

Elena Rybakina is into the Stuttgart final

Image credit: Getty Images

"That's why some matches I win; some matches I lose. But it's always tough for her to play against me and for me to play against her.

"It was a very tough match, like always, against Iga. Really happy that I won on clay. It gives confidence, of course."

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