Rybakina defeats Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to win the WTA 500 event in Stuttgart

Elena Rybakina conquered world #1 and two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in three to reach the final at the Porshe Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion reached her fifth final of the season having triumphed in Brisbane (d. Sabalenka) and Abu Dhabi (d. Kasatkina) to start the season. The twenty-four-year-old representing Kazakhstan is currently ranked #4 having reached a career high of #3 last June. 

Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine is in the midst of a breakout season having reached the quarters at the Australian Open (l. Gauff), the final in San Diego (l. Boulter), and the semis in Indian Wells (l. Swiatek). The twenty-one-year-old with one career title is currently ranked #27 having achieved a career high of twenty-six last month. 

She’s been most impressive in Germany with wins over the Australian Open finalist and world #7 Qinwen Zheng, #3 Coco Gauff in a third set breaker in the quarters, and reigning Wimbledon champion and #8 Marketa Vondrousova in straights in the semis.  

Marijan Murat/dpa

This was their third tour-level meeting having split the previous two. Kostyuk won the toss and chose to serve. She made 2/4 first serves, faced triple break point, and dumped serve while Rybakina consolidated the break with a backhand swing volley despite missing 4/6 first serves. 

The Ukrainian faced deuce and break point but with two outstanding forehands, held for 1-2. The world #4 opened the fourth with a fantastic forehand volley winner down the line and with a monster serve out wide, held to 15 for 3-1.

Kostyuk made 4/6 first serves and held to 30 for 2-3 while Rybakina gifted her first double fault yet held to 30 for 4-2. Kostyuk ripped a backhand down the line to reach 30-30 but two double faults cost her the game. She held the dubious honor of most double faults on tour with 123 leading up to this event. 

Rybakina with patience, clarity, and firepower, served for the set with new balls and after thirty minutes secured it at love with a colossal serve up the tee.  

Kostyuk served first in the second and though she pummeled another backhand down the line, dumped serve with her third double fault while Rybakina made 3/5 first serves including a huge one up the tee to consolidate the break.

Kostyuk held easily to 15 with a blistering backhand down the line while Rybakina held at love with an incredible forehand down the line.

The world #27 missed 4/5 first serves but with two consecutive winners, held to 15 for 2-3. Rybakina struggled in the sixth facing six deuce and three break points but battled and held to maintain the lead. 

Kostyuk exceedingly frustrated by her inability to capitalize on those opportunities, hit two groundstroke winners but dropped serve following three double faults. Rybakina reached 40-15, double match point but needed a fourth to extract the error and secure victory. 

After a little over an hour, she clinched her third title on the dirt, third of the season, and eighth overall. It was an outstanding performance showcasing mental and physical fortitude from a formidable opponent.   

She won 81% of first and 48% of second serve points and was equally effective when returning winning 44% of first and 57% of second serve points. She saved 3/3 break points while converting 4/6. 

As she continues the European clay court swing, she’ll endeavor to further fine-tune her prowess on the dirt as she seeks her first title on the terre battue in Paris.