Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina’s final singles match in the Bacalar Group of the WTA Finals has been postponed until Friday, with Sabalenka leading by 6-2, 3-5.
Players will also have to wait an additional day to find out who moves on to the semi-finals on Saturday from the Bacalar Group due to the suspension of this match. With a perfect 3-0 record in group play, American Jessica Pegula has already secured the top spot. However, the winner of Sabalenka vs. Rybakina will secure the second qualifying spot.
Rain delays are causing schedule disruptions and frustration for players like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals in Cancun.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina both expressed disappointment with how the strong winds were interfering with their gameplay. World No. 1 Sabalenka said that these conditions are far from ideal for the valued event, despite their attempts to improve.
Sabalenka led the fight for a lengthy period of time during the match. The world No. 1 handled Rybakina’s serve with ease during the first set and managed to break her twice.
When Rybakina challenged Sabalenka’s serve for her first break point early in the second set, she made it clear that she was not going to give up easily. After repelling it once, the Belarusian was unable to do so in the eighth game of the set, as Sabalenka lost 3-5 due to four straight errors.
For the eleventh time, rain stopped play as Rybakina was about to serve out the second set and force a decider. As the clock approached midnight, the chair umpire made the decision to end the match, requiring the players to return the next day to decide who advances from the Bacalar Group.
Aryna Sabalenka is enjoying the rain 😂
Gotta give it to the ball kid who is refusing to let go of this umbrella pic.twitter.com/wT2bpMC8NC
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
The Cancun Curse was in full effect in the Rybakina & Sabalenka match pic.twitter.com/iokgZU3TGI
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
Elena Rybakina in 2023
Ranked world no.4, the Kazakhstani played her last match on the 31st of October when she overcame world no.9 Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-7(4) 7-6(2) in the round robin in Cancun (draw).
During this season Rybakina achieved a compiled 47-14 match record. Rybakina clinched 2 titles in 2023 in Indian Wells and Rome. Elena reached the final at the Australian Open and Miami.
Aryna Sabalenka in 2023
WWWWWWWLWW Ranked world no.1, Aryna played her last match on the 31st of October when she lost to world no.5 Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-3 in the round robin in Cancun (draw).
Presently, during this year Sabalenka has a compiled 54-13 win-loss record. The Belarussian has won 3 titles in 2023 in Adelaide, Australian Open and Madrid. The Belarussian was the finalist in Indian Wells, Stuttgart and U.S. Open.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka squared off 6 times. Their current head to head is 4-2 for Sabalenka. Before, the last time they competed against each other, Elena Rybakina won 7-5 6-2 in the quarter in Beijing (China Open) on the 6th of October 2023.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
