Elena Rybakina was resolute throughout her road to the Miami Open final, but ultimately fell short against hometown her Danielle Collins.
Battling against the American as well as an entire stadium was always going to be an enduring task, made even harder due to the sheer amount of tennis played by the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
Perhaps a small break could be in the offing, with injuries having already curtailed two tournaments for her this year.
And perhaps that fatigue crept into one element of her game on Saturday, which one pundit highlighted.
Naomi Broady left disappointed with one Elena Rybakina trait
Speaking to Sky Sports immediately following Collins’ landmark victory, Naomi Broady, who enjoyed a long professional tennis career, was quick to laud the American.
However, in the same breath, she also wanted to outline why she felt Rybakina fell short again for the second successive year at Miami.
The former world number 57 noted: ‘I think she’s in shock. Utter relief I think is the overwhelming emotion. She has managed to get herself across the finish line.
‘Rybakina didn’t play poorly today, though she’ll be disappointed not to take more of her break point chances. Her backhand let her down at times.
‘But you’ve got to give credit where it’s due: what a tournament Collins has played and what a fairy tale ending to her career this is becoming.’
For a shot that is normally so sturdy, Broady makes a good point about how it was often targeted, to great effect. Regardless, Billie Jean King was quick to congratulate the eventual winner.
Elena Rybakina continues her strong start to 2024
Whilst she will have expected to claim her third title of 2024 just yesterday, Rybakina can still be proud of yet another deep run despite having endured a few niggling injuries this season already.
The Kazakhstani tennis star brushed aside Aryna Sabalenka to win her first piece of silverware back in Brisbane, and despite disappointing in the actual Australian Open she bounced back in Abu Dhabi, winning another title.
Losing to Iga Swiatek in the final of the next tournament is nothing to be ashamed of, but again marked a deep run, before injury troubles saw her struggle in Dubai and drop out of Indian Wells.
Her ability to bounce straight back is truly unparalleled though, and the 24-year-old saw off some fierce competition before a fairytale ending cut that short.
With clay court season in the offing now too, she will be hoping to surpass her best-ever finish at Roland-Garros, a quarter-final in 2021. Given her current form, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
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