Rybakina Advances to Round of 16 at Indian Wells After Battling Kostyuk
Elena Rybakina overcame a tough challenge from Marta Kostyuk to secure her place in the Round of 16 at the WTA Indian Wells tournament on Monday, March 10, 2026. The world No. 3 defeated Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4 in a match that tested her resilience.
Rybakina had to rally from a break down in both sets against the No. 28 seeded Kostyuk, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure. Despite a competitive showing from her opponent, Rybakina ultimately prevailed in straight sets after 1 hour and 27 minutes of play. This victory improves her head-to-head record against the Ukrainian to 4-1.
“Marta is a particularly tough opponent and she played really well,” Rybakina said after the match. “I’m just happy that I managed to win in two sets, even being down. And yeah, I’m just super happy. Thank you so much for coming so late and supporting us.”
Kostyuk initially gained an advantage in the opening set, securing a break for a 2-1 lead. However, Rybakina quickly responded, capitalizing on a double fault from Kostyuk to level the score. Both players then held serve for five consecutive games before Rybakina closed out the set.
Rybakina will now face Sonay Kartal in the next round, continuing her campaign at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. The result sets up an intriguing matchup as Rybakina looks to continue her strong form.
This win avoids a potential clash with Swiatek in the later stages of the tournament, as Sport Interia reports Swiatek has already secured her victory in a separate match.
