By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Elena Rybakina won 12 of the final 15 games dispatching early nerves and Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in her Wimbledon opener.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Disarming power helped Elena Rybakina raise the Rosewater Dish last summer.
Jitters restricted Rybakina's right arm as she launched her Wimbledon defense today.
More: Federer Receives Rousing Ovation in Centre Court Return
Double-faulting on the first point of the match, Rybakina dropped her opening service game and the first set.
Then Rybakina dropped the hammer winning 12 of the final 15 games dispatching early nerves and Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in her Wimbledon opener.
Following her first game donation, Rybakina imposed serving domination.
The Australian Open finalist won 41 of 44 first-serve points, pumped 12 aces against 2 double faults and did not face a break point the rest of the day.
The third-seeded Rybakina, who leads the Tour ace race with 327 aces this season, raised her Wimbledon record to 11-1.
Rybakina will next play either Japanese lucky loser Nao Hibino or French veteran Alize Cornet, who toppled world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon last year and also owns a Wimbledon win over Serena Williams.
Playing beneath the closed Centre Court roof for the first time, aiming to defend a major championship for the first time and competing with Princess Kate and eight-time Wimbledon winner Roger Federer watching intently from the Royal Box you can understand why Rybakina, who is playing The Championships for just the third time, was tight at the outset.
"It was really tough for me today," Rybakina told Centre Court fans. "I was really nervous. I cannot even hide it—the double fault said it all at the beginning of the match.
"It was an amazing atmosphere. I'm really pleased to get to another round."
Afterward, Rybakina shared she's a huge Federer fan and was a little unnerved by his presence.
"Maybe that's why I was nervous because actually I really like Roger. When I was younger, I was always watching him play," Rybakina said. "It was really special. The year after to be again on this court with the same crowd, it was really special.
"First matches, I think they're always tough I would say, like, mentally to get to the rhythm of the tournament. So hopefully the next match is going to be easier."
Credit Rogers for taking that opening break and making it stand. Rogers served with ambition as the set progressed.
The 49th-ranked Rogers slid an ace down the middle snatching the opening set with a bang.
Swinging more freely to start the second set, Rybakina exploited a couple of double faults breaking for the first time for a 2-0 lead.
The defending champion cracked her sixth ace to consolidate the break for 3-0 after 55 minutes. Rybakina won 16 of 19 serve points and ripped five aces powering through the second set to force a decider.
"Amazing atmosphere," Rybakina said. "First time I played under the roof here. The grass is full on the baseline. It’s just amazing. I’m really happy to go another round. I’m just enjoying the moment here."
Establishing the early break lead in the third set, Rybakina played the end of this return with the same dynamic intent she showed defeating Ons Jabeur in the 2022 final.
Serving at 2-4 in the decider, Rogers repelled three straight break points. Ambition got the best of the American who wacked a swing volley long to face another break point before double-faulting to gift Rybakina another break and a 5-2 lead.
The Australian Open finalist served out the match at love.
Tagging the ball with vigor, Rybakina showed no signs of the energy-sapping virus that forced her to pull out of Roland Garros and impacted her in three-set Birmingham loss to Donna Vekic last month.
The 24-year-old Rybakina pronounced herself fit and feeling stronger physically and emotionally after passing this opening-round test.
"Physically I'm feeling good. Of course, maybe I'm missing a bit some things here and there because we didn't put enough hours or maybe the hours we wanted to do," Rybakina said. "But overall I feel good. I think with every match, I'm going to just also get in physically more ready for all the matches.
"Hopefully I can play as many as I can here."