Rybakina Survives Cornet Test, Svitolina Wins; Swiatek, Sabalenka Friday

Elena Rybakina survived yet another stern test in her Wimbledon title defense on Thursday. The 2022 champion won his 9th straight at the Club topping Alize Cornet 6-2, 7-6(7-2).

Cornet, who has pulled off several big upsets at Wimbledon before including knocking out Iga Swiatek a year ago, made a match of it in the second until she injured her right hip with Rybakina serving 5-all. Cornet would scream in pain, get up, get treatment and then continue but Rybakina fought off the nerves for another win.

“I started the match with good energy but it became tougher in the second,” Rybakina said. “I wasn’t pushing as good with the legs. That was a tricky long game. So a tough match but I’m happy to win in two sets and reach another round.”

French finalist Karolina Muchova finally took the court but was upset by 2022 quarterfinalist Jule Niemeier 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

“The first couple of matches against top players, I was hesitating a bit. I thought I have to play something special,” Niemeier saod.

“If you play those players, you just have to stay there. You have to play every point. You have to stay consistent, just focus on every point. That’s what I’m trying to do now.”

Elina Svitolina continued her comeback with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Elise Mertens. The former world No. 3 will take on qualifier Sofia Kenin who cruised past Xinyu Wang 6-4, 6-3.

American No. 1 Jessica Pegula quietly eliminated Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4.

Caroline Garcia won a final set breaker over Leylah Fernandez in the women’s match of the day.

Donna Vekic stopped the tears long enough to come from 3-0 down in the second to beat Sloane Stephens 4-6, 6-5, 6-4.

“I always said to my team that Sloane is one of the best players in the world. I think she definitely showed that today,” Vekic said.

“I was in trouble. At the beginning of the second set I was having a little bit of a panic attack, because it’s not every day you play on Court No.1.

“Wimbledon is such a special place for me. I told myself to enjoy it somehow, the fighter in me came out, I was fighting for every point.”

Former No. 2 Anetto Kontaveit fell to 2022 quarterfinalist Marie Bouzkova to end her career. The 27-year-old will hang it up due to a back injury.

Also, Victoria Azarenka, Bianca Andreescu, Katie Boulter and 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva were all winners. Andreeva got a retirement from Barbora Krejcikova who had to quit down a set and 4-0 due to a left foot injury.

Tomorrow, No. 1 Iga Swiatek clashes with No. 30 Petra Martic. Swiatek leads 2-0 winning recently in Madrid.

No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka draws Varvara Gracheva in a first-time tour-level clash

Pegula battles Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Garcia btakes on her ousted from last year Bouzkova, Marie Bouzkova, No. 6 Ons Jabeur takes on Zhuoxuan Bai, No. 9 Petra Kvitova tests Aliaksandra Sasnovich, No. 11 Daria Kasatkina battles No. 19 Victoria Azarenka and No. 14 Belinda Bencic draws No. 23 Magda Linette.

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