Big-hitting Rybakina hails 'gift' after reaching Wimbledon quarter-finals
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Elena Rybakina beat Petra Martic 7-5, 6-3 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday.
LONDON (AFP) - Kazakhstan s Elena Rybakina reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time on Monday and confidently declared: "I have a gift".
The Russian-born 17th seed defeated Croatia s Petra Martic 7-5, 6-3.
Rybakina, who switched nationality to Kazakhstan in 2018, has made the last eight without dropping a set.
Standing at an impressive six feet (1.84 metres) tall, Rybakina, who still lives in Moscow, has pounded 29 aces at the tournament so far.
In Monday s win over Martic on Court One, she also unleashed the second-fastest serve of the tournament -- 122 miles (196 kilometres) per hour.
When under siege, she has saved 17 of 23 break points over four rounds.
"I never compared myself with anyone. I just know that I have this gift. I m tall and I play really fast," said Rybakina.
"It s effortless, I would say. It s not something I m working in the gym or something. This is my weapon, and I m just trying to use it as much as I can."
The 23-year-old will be playing in her second Grand Slam quarter-final, having also reached the last eight at the French Open in 2021.
Despite her powerful game, Rybakina struggled in the build-up to Wimbledon, winning just one of three grass-court matches.
"This year I would say that I didn t start well. I was not so confident because I didn t have good preparation. I was injured, got sick in Paris, and I couldn t recover," said Rybakina.
"But maybe I was more relaxed. I m still more relaxed, enjoying my time here."
Rybakina will face either Alize Cornet of France or Australia s Ajla Tomljanovic for a place in the semi-finals.
