Google News The worst WTA Finals ever: the tribulations of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
by LORENZO CIOTTI
We told you about it this morning, now we offer you videos of the absurd conditions and the problems that the tennis players are facing at the WTA Finals in Cancun. Yesterday's match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina was interrupted and postponed to the next day (today) due to the prohibitive conditions on the pitch, which made it practically impossible to continue the match.
6-2, 3-5 the score with the Kazakh who will immediately be able to take advantage of the opportunity to serve to extend the match to the third. Between the strong wind and the rain, the two tennis players found themselves in great difficulty.
In the first set the 24 year old couldn't serve and, embarrassed by the situation, she tried to get support from the crowd. The competition was stopped at 5 different times, before a definitive shift to Friday's program together with the other two races, hoping for better weather around the city of Cancún.
Below you can watch what happened and documented on social media by The Tennis Letter through a series of Tweets.
Elena Rybakina throws up the ball, but the wind has a mind of its own.
Elena smiles.
The crowd cheers for her & tries to give her support.
Trying to make the best of a tough situation, but she hits a double fault.
These conditions are dreadful.pic.twitter.com/8mPI9YSCux — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
Elena Rybakina throws up the ball, but the wind has a mind of its own.
Elena smiles.
The crowd cheers for her & tries to give her support.
Trying to make the best of a tough situation, but she hits a double fault.
These conditions are dreadful.pic.twitter.com/8mPI9YSCux — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
Elena Rybakina & Aryna Sabalenka walk off the court with towels over their heads as play is suspended ☔ pic.twitter.com/yS8YcKKXsS — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
Aryna Sabalenka is enjoying the rain 😂
Gotta give it to the ball kid who is refusing to let go of this umbrella pic.twitter.com/wT2bpMC8NC — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2023
What happened
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina were stopped at 6-2, 3-5 and will resume battling on the court only late in the evening (local time) today, Friday 3 November.
The match was also interrupted 5 times due to very strong winds which prevented the two from serving. With bad weather also arriving, the organizers had no choice but to postpone the conclusion of the meeting. The Belarusian, with two breaks in the opening game and in the fifth game, took home the first set.
Before the interruption the number one gave up serve to zero and gave Rybakina the opportunity to resume with the possibility of extending the match. We recall Iga Swiatek is also close to the semifinal: she only need to win two games in the match against Ons Jabeur.