MELBOURNE, Australia — Down a set to Elena Rybakina, women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek left Rod Laver Arena for a bathroom break and pored through her handwritten notes.
But as much as she studied, and as much as she hustled once the quick-strike rallies resumed, Swiatek could not find an answer to Rybakina’s power game as she was beaten 6-4 6-4 in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
Though Swiatek went up a break of serve and 3-0 in the second set, she could not hold that lead as Rybakina won six of the final seven games to prevail, serving out the victory at love.