Rybakina happy to have controversial coach back while she beats Sabalenka

Elena Rybakina has described herself as satisfied with the return of her coach Stefano Vukov while producing an imperious version in the Cincinnati Open, Die Aryna Sabalenka, the World No 1 and title defender, 6-1, 6-4 demonstrator to reach the semi-final.

Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion from 2022, put together a performance of the highest quality on Friday afternoon, because she had overwhelmed one of the most destructive shotmakers in the world.

Until the past few weeks, Vukov was banned from coaching on WTA tournaments and the Grand Slam events after the WTA discovered that he had been abused with abuse to Rybakina. His suspension was lifted on appeal, so that he was able to train in Cincinnati for the past two weeks and support her on the spot. “It’s great that he is finally in the box here, so it’s a good thing,” she said.

Since the suspension of Vukov, Rybakina had repeatedly pronounced her frustration about the ban and was critical of the WTA. After being suspended for the time being in January in anticipation of the investigation, Rybakina said: “I don’t agree with many things that the WTA does in the sense of my relationship with Stefano. As I said before, I have never done complaints or one of these things. I always said he never abused me.”

Although he was banned to receive references for tournaments, Vukov continued to train with Rybakina away from events. She has been working with the Italian former player Davide Sanguinetti since February. This week Vukov and Sanguinetti gave her advice in training and competitions.

During her press conference after the game, Rybakina chose not to speak in profound about her work with Vukov. Asked how useful it was to have him back on site, she answered curtly: “It is always a help when the whole team is here with me.”

Another important competition is waiting for Rybakina while she again wakes her rivalry with the third seed Iga Swiatek, which remains in excellent form since her Wimbledon victory and the 28th Seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 defeated to continue to the semi-finale.

Later on Friday, the second seed of the men Carlos Alcaraz held against a quality performance by Andrey Rublev, the 11th seed, while he narrowly reached the semi-final with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory.

“Today I always maintained the positive thoughts, although I lost the focus a few times in the match in the second set,” said Alcaraz. “That game that served that he broke me, I lost a few points that play in matches against someone like Andrey, when you lose the focus for two or three points, it will cost you the set or almost the game.”

Although Alcaraz has not been at its best this week in Cincinnati, he continues to show his growing maturity at the decisive moments. Here Alcaraz initially seemed to endure the storm when he broke serve for a 5-3 third set lead, but he missed a whole series of first services when he tried to serve the game and quickly found himself back to 5-5. Despite missing his first chance, Alcaraz maintained his calmness and closed the victory.

Alcaraz will be confronted with Ben Shelton or Alexander Zverev in the semi -final. He and Jannik Sinner are again a round of each other in what their fourth consecutive final would be against each other.