Elena Rybakina’s Stunning Straight-Sets Victory Ignites French Open Buzz

Elena Rybakina is turning the red clay of Roland Garros into her own personal stage, storming into the French Open fourth round with a ruthless 6-2, 6-2 dismissal of 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko. The 25-year-old Kazakh, already a Wimbledon winner and former world No. 3, struck 27 winners against just 13 unforced errors, underlining the controlled aggression that has made her one of the most feared ball-strikers on tour. Next up is a blockbuster encounter with three-time Roland Garros title holder Iga Świątek, a rivalry that has become appointment viewing for tennis fans. Their head-to-head is locked at 4-4, but crucially Rybakina has won both of their previous clay-court meetings, including last year’s stirring triumph in Rome that ended the Pole’s 14-match winning streak on the surface. With Świątek chasing a historic third straight Paris crown and Rybakina eyeing her first, Sunday’s fourth-round showdown has all the makings of a classic. Key storylines to watch • Rybakina’s upgraded serve The Kazakh has added two kilometres per hour to her average first-serve speed this season, producing 34 aces through three rounds—second only to Aryna Sabalenka in the tournament leaderboard. On a sluggish Court Philippe-Chatrier, free points will be priceless. • Świątek’s counter-punching vs flat power Rybakina’s low, skidding groundstrokes rush opponents for time, a pattern that has troubled Świątek in their recent meetings. The world No. 1 will look to extend rallies with her heavy topspin forehand, especially toward Rybakina’s backhand corner. • Physical question mark A mid-season gastrointestinal virus forced Rybakina out of Madrid and curtailed her Rome campaign. She insists she is now “100 percent,” but a best-of-three sprint against the tour’s premier grinder will test that assertion. Road to the Round of 16 1R: def. Clara Burel 6-4, 6-3 2R: def. Sara Errani 6-1, 6-0 3R: def. Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2 Stat box • Break-point conversion: 17/23 (74 %) • First-serve points won: 78 % • Average rally length: 4.2 strokes Why Rybakina can win Roland Garros 2025 1. Clay-court confidence: a 15-2 record since the start of last season. 2. Balanced power: her forehand tops the tournament’s shot-speed chart at 125 km/h, while her backhand ranks No. 3. 3. Mental edge: victories over every member of the current top five in the past 12 months. Match details Date: Sunday, 2 June Court: Philippe-Chatrier (third on the schedule) Start time: not before 14:00 CEST / 8:00 ET Live TV: Tennis Channel (USA), Eurosport (Europe) Streaming: RolandGarros.com, official tournament app, Tennis TV in selected regions Quotable “I know I can beat anyone when I’m aggressive and stay calm,” Rybakina told courtside reporters after her round-three win. “Playing Iga here is always special—she’s the one to beat on clay, and that challenge excites me.” Social buzz & fan engagement • #RybakinaRising trended worldwide after her dominant third-round victory. • Search volume for “Rybakina French Open live stream” has doubled week over week, signalling surging interest among casual viewers. • Expect a packed Philippe-Chatrier and global audience spikes on streaming platforms during Sunday’s clash. Bottom line Elena Rybakina has flown under the radar in Paris, but her uncompromising baseline game, newly turbo-charged serve and proven clay pedigree make her a legitimate title threat. If she can add Świątek’s scalp to her growing list of 2025 achievements, the road to the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup could open wide—and tennis fans should buckle up for a potential seismic shift at Roland Garros.