Rybakina flies high to reach Tokyo 2020 semis, keeps Asian hopes alive for maiden Women’s singles medal at Olympics
Elena Rybakina, the 22 year old Kazakh sensation, has made it to the semi-finals in Women’s singles in her debut Olympics at Tokyo, Japan today.
The 2021 Roland Garros quarterfinalist and 15th seed at Tokyo 2020, Rybakina made it to the final four after defeating seventh seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain in straight sets 75 61 in one hour and 33 minutes long quarterfinal match played at Ariake Tennis Park.
With this win, the Kazakh girl has kept the Asian hopes, for its maiden Olympics medal in Women’s singles discipline, alive.
Moscow born 6 feet tall lass with a current world ranking of 20, Rybakina statistically outplayed the higher ranked Muguruza (world no 9) with her winners (17 forehand and 8 backhand) in comparison to the Spaniard’s total nine winners. Rybakina won total 70 points whilst Muguruza won just 48.
Home boy Nishikori makes his third consecutive quarterfinals at Olympics
The Men’s singles tennis Bronze medal winner from previous edition of Olympics in Rio, Japan’s Kei Nishikori has now made a hat-trick of quarterfinals appearances at the Olympic Games. In 2012 London Games, he lost to Argentine Juan Martin del Potro at the quarters stage while in 2016 he defeated Rafael Nadal to pocket his first Olympics medal – Bronze in Rio.
Playing the quadrennial mega sports event for the first time on home soil, Nishikori knocked out Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 76 60 in straight sets and booked an appointment with none other than world no 1 Serbian Novak Djokovic in the Men’s singles quarterfinals.
Hardly anything separated both Nishikori and Ivashka in the opening set even as Nishikori edged ahead 76 in 82 minutes. However, the last hope of home nation for a singles tennis medal, Nishikori turned it around completely and bageled the Belarusian in just 39 minutes and sealed the third round match in his favour.
An uphill task awaits the National hero of Japanese tennis when he goes head to head against Djokovic to make it to the last four in Men’s singles at Tokyo 2020.
In the Men’s doubles competition, the Japanese team of Nishikori and Ben McLachlan bowed out of the competition to the red hot top seeds from Croatia Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 63 63 in little over an hour’s time.
Meanwhile in the Mixed doubles first round outing, luck favoured Japan’s Ben McLachlan and his partner Ena Shibahara as they won the all-Asian tussle against Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets 63 76.
Played on the Centre court of the Ariake Tennis Centre, the match started late in the evening because of preceding matches of Ben McLachlan in Men’s doubles draw and lasted for an hour and a half.
McLachlan and Shibahara duo of Japan has now entered Mixed doubles quarterfinals and will face ROC team comprising of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev.
Results of Asian Players on Day five of Tennis events at Tokyo 2020:
Men’s Singles – Third Round:
Kei Nishikori (JPN) def. Ilya Ivashka (BLR) 76 60
Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals:
Mektic/Pavic (CRO) def. McLachlan/Nishikori (JPN) 63 63
Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals:
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) def. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 75 61
Mixed Doubles – First Round:
Shibahara/McLachlan (JPN) def. Shvedova/Golubev (KAZ) 63 76
Match schedule of Asian Players on Day six of Tennis events at Tokyo 2020:
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals:
Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Women’s Singles – Semifinals:
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals:
Shibahara/McLachlan (JPN) vs Pavlyuchenkova/Rublev (ROC)
