In Rome, Italy, the women’s final brought together Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and Ukraine’s Anastasia Kalinina for a high-stakes showdown on the red clay. The match carried the weight of two rising talents facing off on a grand stage in front of a buzzing crowd, each player hoping to claim a prestigious title at one of the season’s most talked-about events.
Early in the second set, Kalinina chose not to continue after the score reached 1:0, signaling a retirement that sealed the victory for Rybakina. The opening set had already tipped in favor of the Kazakh player, with a 6:4 scoreline that underlined her aggressive serving and steady baseline game as the opportunity to close out the match loomed.
The post-match interview lasted one hour and eight minutes, during which Rybakina displayed composure and focus. She fired three aces, registered a single double fault, and converted two of nine break-point opportunities, illustrating a performance built on serving power and smart precision when it mattered most.
On her route to the final, Rybakina triumphed over a series of formidable opponents, including Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, Iga Swiatek of Poland, Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, and Yulia Paolini of Italy. Each victory showcased different facets of her game, from attack-minded returns to clutch play on critical points.
In the official WTA rankings at the time, Rybakina stood sixth, while Kalinina sat at forty-seventh, highlighting the gap in experience and depth of resume but also the potential for a breakthrough performance in a tournament that rewards both form and nerve.
In the broader women’s tour, pole position remained with Polish star Iga Swiatek, who led with a substantial point total that reflected her consistency and success across the year. Arina Sobolenko, in second place, mounted a championship-level push, narrowing the gap thanks to outcomes in major head-to-head clashes, including a notable win in Madrid that helped shape the race for rankings supremacy. The United States also boasted strong presence in the top three, with Jessica Pegula among the elite pack, although she faced a disappointing result in the Madrid doubles final alongside compatriot Coco Gauff, illustrating how doubles form can diverge from singles performance.
Earlier coverage highlighted Medvedev’s celebrations after clinching a spot in Rome’s final, a reminder that the Rome event was not only about the women’s final but also about a week full of memorable moments across the men’s and women’s tours, all contributing to the tournament’s reputation as a premier stop on the circuit.