Elena Rybakina wins the 2023 Italian Open after Kalinina retires

Elena Rybakina, world number 6, triumphed with the 2023 Rome WTA Masters 1000 after Anhelina Kalinina retired after 1 game in the 2^nd set.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞 👑

🏆 Elena Rybakina is the 2023 Ladies’ Singles Champion! #IBI23 | @WTA | @lenarybakina pic.twitter.com/HuKzvY06Pz

— Internazionali BNL d’Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 20, 2023

Rybakina won the 1^st set 6-4 after breaking her Ukrainian opponent’s serve twice, including when Kalinina served to tie 5-5. Elena won the 1^st game in the 2^nd set to 15 as she served. After that, Kalinina took a medical timeout, but it became clear that she couldn’t continue the match.

Elena again advanced in the ¼ finals after her opponent Iga Swiatek retired in the 3^rd set.

More on this topic:

Djokovic will miss the ATP Finals for ‘ongoing injury’

4 – Elena Rybakina is the fourth player in the Open Era to secure the title in Indian Wells and Rome in the same year after Martina Hingis in 1998, Kim Clijsters in 2003 and Iga Swiatek in 2022. Empress.#IBI23 | @InteBNLdItalia @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/mFD66FfTgi

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 20, 2023

6 – Elena Rybakina is the 6th player since the introduction of the WTA-1000 format in 2009 to secure a Grand Slam or WTA-1000 title in each surface after S. Williams, Kvitova, Halep, Muguruza and Barty. Multitasking.#IBI23 | @InteBNLdItalia @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/lPRC7UDOQ6

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 20, 2023

Interestingly, in the only match between them before the final, Kalinina defeated Rybakina 2:1 sets on clay in Charleston in 2022.