2023 Rome WTA F: Elena Rybakina (7) vs. Anhelina Kalinina (30)

[Lozo1016]

Elena Rybakina looks to win her 2nd WTA 1000 of the season, having won Indian Wells earlier in the year. She also has finals appearances at the Australian Open and Miami to bolster her 2023 accomplishments. Rybakina has had a remarkable 12-month stretch, but she has struggled a bit in finals over the course of her career (4-9 overall). Will she be able to come up big and add to her already-impressive recent results?

Anhelina Kalinina is hoping to win her first WTA 1000 of her career. In fact, this would be her first-ever WTA main tour title! She has had to fight through 3 straight 3-set matches vs seeded players to get here (Keys, Haddad Maia, Kudermetova). Does Kalinina have what it takes to fight through another tough competitor to win the biggest match of her career?

 

[Hitman]

Elena all the way. She is a breath of fresh air to what was becoming a very stale WTA IMO.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

If Elena wins she'll get to #4, that would mean no Iga or Aryna before the SFs at the FO.

 

[Tennfan123]

Rybs 6 and 3.

 

[ScottleeSV]

I'm going for the upset 6-3 3-6 6-4 to Kal

 

[Pass750]

Why would they make this match on the same day as mens semis? Seems wrong to make it dependent on mens matches finishing. They need to reschedule this until tomorrow, would be ridiculous to play this tonight.

 

[Ronaldo]

Why would they make this match on the same day as mens semis? Seems wrong to make it dependent on mens matches finishing. They need to reschedule this until tomorrow, would be ridiculous to play this tonight.

Super Saturday all over again!

 

[_phantom]

Pietrangeli is 50% full. No idea yet if it's for women's singles or doubles.

 

[Hitman]

Why would they make this match on the same day as mens semis? Seems wrong to make it dependent on mens matches finishing. They need to reschedule this until tomorrow, would be ridiculous to play this tonight.

Rome is notorious for some of the worst scheduling you will ever see year round.

 

[Pass750]

Pietrangeli is 50% full. No idea yet if it's for women's singles or doubles.

No way in hell they should be playing womens final tonight on outer court. Really would be unfair to all involved and really diminish the final.

 

[_phantom]

No way in hell they should be playing womens final tonight on outer court. Really would be unfair to all involved and really diminish the final.

Doubles final, almost sure now

 

[Pass750]

Rome is notorious for some of the worst scheduling you will ever see year round.

We had tickets to evening session but no way we were going to head up there with uncertainty of if and when match would start not to mention an ending time late at night and the chance of no bus and iffy taxi situation.

 

[Hitman]

We had tickets to evening session but no way we were going to head up there with uncertainty of if and when match would start not to mention an ending time late at night and the chance of no bus and iffy taxi situation.

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Pass750]

Sorry to hear that.

Thanks, not a complete loss, we did have a good time when we went on Tuesday.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Come on guys finish it off so we can watch the women's final!

 

[Hitman]

Is this still happening today?

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Is this still happening today?

Yes, according to Tennis Channel.

 

[Deleted member 758560]

match is on..

 

[Mark-Touch]

Is this still happening today?

Sure is.
If they can start matches at midnight why not 11 pm?
I mean the players are just machines, right?

 

[tennis4me]

Starting a match at 11pm local time.
That after what I believe having 2 days idle before playing the semi. What a scheduling mess. Apparently notorious for this

 

[Legend of Borg]

The tournament gave the players a choice of either playing the final today or tomorrow.

Both of them elected to play today, hence the final we are currently watching.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Kalinina broke after a tense game from Elena, but man the Ukrainian looks super tired.

 

[Tennfan123]

Lol at WTA if Kalinina drags Rybs in the Rome final.
Just lol.

 

[Hitman]

The tournament gave the players a choice of either playing the final today or tomorrow.

Both of them elected to play today, hence the final we are currently watching.

OK, at least they gave them that choice.

 

[coolcamden]

Kalinina is tough mentally, we’ll give her that. Her game is solid all around too.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Elena is not very good from the ground so far,bad UEs, Kalinina outplays her, but she looks spent.

 

[Hitman]

Kalinina looking a little fatigued, Rybakina starting to find her range.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Lol at WTA if Kalinina drags Rybs in the Rome final.
Just lol.

The quality of the match is very high.
These ladies aren't just pushing the ball around!

 

[Hitman]

Rybakina walks around the court like Safin.

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Kalinina looking a little fatigued, Rybakina starting to find her range.

Kalinina played 3H and 45 minutes against Haddad Maia and the QF and yesterday 2H and 50 minutes against Kudermetova, she said she couldn't feel her legs after finishing the match yesterday, that's my big concern.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Kalinina made a mistake to vote to go ahead with the final tonight.

Should've elected to play tomorrow.

I don't know how the authorities would've handled a split vote but at least she would've had a chance at a better recovery.

 

[Hitman]

Kalinina played 3H and 45 minutes against Haddad Maia and the QF and yesterday 2H and 50 minutes against Kudermetova, she said she couldn't feel her legs after finishing the match yesterday, that's my big concern.

Don't think she has any chance, if she loses the first set.

 

[Hitman]

Savage point....wow

 

[Hitman]

Kalinina made a mistake to vote to go ahead with the final tonight.

Should've elected to play tomorrow.

I don't know how the authorities would've handled a split vote but at least she would've had a chance at a better recovery.

Think they would have postponed it if that was the case, match happening very late.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Think they would have postponed it if that was the case, match happening very late.

Yea probably.

I can't imagine they'd make her play if she said no.

 

[spystud]

There's the set. Don't walk away for too long during the next one.

 

[Hitman]

That could be it.

 

[coolcamden]

Ryba converted the break to take the 1st set.

On the 9th try. Kalinina is a tough cookie. Hats off to her.

 

[Mark-Touch]

I'm not too keen on 'nina.
She looks a little evil.
Good set 'kina!

 

[coolcamden]

She done. Crying… feel bad for her.

 

[spystud]

Damnit, hate retirements in finals.

 

[Hitman]

Yeah, this is over....she cannot jump.

She has called it a match. Sad.

 

[pj80]

Did the Ukrainian shake Rybakina hand?

 

[Hitman]

Happy for Elena, I wanted her to win, but not like this.

 

[Hitman]

Did the Ukrainian shake Rybakina hand?

Yes.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Did the Ukrainian shake Rybakina hand?

They hugged.

 

[tennis4me]

Did the Ukrainian shake Rybakina hand?

No, but they hugged. I guess she doesn't consider Rybakina 'Russian'.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Sad ending for sure. Ugh.

 

[Slicehand]

she won this tournament by K.O

 

[Lozo1016]

Rybakina gets 3 walkovers in her 6 Rome matches.