Elena Rybakina’s Shocking Exit from the French Open
Elena Rybakina, the second seed at the French Open, suffered a stunning three-set defeat at the hands of Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva, marking one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. The Australian Open champion looked set for the third round after winning the first set, but Starodubtseva turned the match around in a grueling battle under intense heat.
The world No 55 took control in the second set, securing a double-break in the third. Despite this, Rybakina fought back to force a tiebreak in the deciding set. However, Starodubtseva quickly seized the initiative in the tiebreak, clinching the match with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-4). This victory marked the biggest win of Starodubtseva’s career and her first top-10 win.
“It’s hard to describe, I’m super happy,” Starodubtseva, 26, said during her on-court interview. “Elena is one of the top players. She has had an incredible year, and I’m super proud of myself that I was able to do this today. It was a hard third set, but I got it done. She’s again one of the top players, and you can’t be thinking that it’s going to be easy today. Even at 3-0 [in the third set], I had a feeling it might not be that easy. Tough match, but happy to be the winner today.”
Rybakina had the opportunity to replace Aryna Sabalenka as world No 1 depending on their performances in Paris. However, her early exit means she still hasn’t advanced past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros in eight attempts. Despite this, the former Wimbledon champion had won a clay-court title this year by triumphing in Stuttgart. Her absence removes a potential obstacle from four-time champion Iga Świątek’s side of the draw.
Starodubtseva’s Historic Achievement
Starodubtseva’s victory marks her best result of the season, as she reaches the third round of the French Open for the second consecutive year. She is now the third player from Ukraine to advance to the third round of the women’s singles draw at Roland Garros. This follows the progress of seventh seed and Italian Open champion Elina Svitolina and 15th seed and Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk.
“I think clay is not the worst surface for me,” Starodubtseva said. “And the crowd was very, very nice today to me. Thank you guys. I really, really felt the support today. I heard my name so many times, and I really appreciate it.”
Impact on the Tournament
This unexpected result has shifted the dynamics of the tournament, creating new opportunities for other players. With Rybakina’s exit, the path to the later stages of the competition has become less challenging for several top contenders. Starodubtseva’s performance has also highlighted the growing strength of Ukrainian tennis, with three players making significant progress in the women’s singles draw.
As the tournament continues, fans will be watching closely to see how these changes affect the rest of the competition. Starodubtseva’s victory is not just a personal milestone but also a testament to the increasing competitiveness of the women’s game. Her resilience and determination under pressure have earned her a place among the elite, and her success could inspire a new generation of players.
