Elena Rybakina snaps Liudmila Samsonova streak, surges into Abu Dhabi final

Elena Rybakina is on the board at last against Liudmila Samsonova, defeating her nemesis for the first time in five attempts, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 to advance into the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final, where Daria Kasatkina awaits.

"It was a really tough battle and I'm really happy that I managed to win in the end," Rybakina said on court. "I started pretty well, and a few shots went my way. But in the second set, focus and energy went down. Liudmila always plays very aggressive, so it's not easy to play against her."

The top-seeded Rybakina shook off a second-set hiccup to knock out the No. 8 seed in one hour and 51 minutes and reach her second final of the season, having started the year with a victory at the Brisbane International.

A finalist in Abu Dhabi 12 months ago, Samsonova brought an astounding 4-0 head-to-head domination into the second semifinal of the day, having never lost to Rybakina in all four of their previous encounters. The No. 8 seed naturally triumphed in both of their 2023 encounters, most recently last fall at the China Open in Beijing.

Samsonova had endured a slow start to 2024. Despite her impressive finish to last season, she lost both of her matches in Australia. Looking to bounce back in the Middle East, has been in fine form all week in Abu Dhabi, rolling into the semifinals without losing a set.

Rybakina was equally in search of a rebound after exiting in the second round of the Australian Open, and dropped just five games in her quarterfinal against Cristina Bucșa after rallying from a set down to defeat Danielle Collins.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion took that momentum to the extreme at the start, racing through the first set without a single unforced error, overwhelming Samsonova in 25 minutes flat.

Samsonova rebounded in kind by getting on the board and taking a double-break lead of her own, and though Rybakina narrowed the gap, the No. 8 seed served out the second set to force a decider.

Rybakina continued to pressure the Samsonova serve as the third set got underway, twice earning break chances before converting for what quickly became a 5-2 advantage.

A netted forehand from Samsonova set up two match points, and Rybakina only needed one as she forced a backhand miss from her rival to edge over the finish line in just under two hours.

Waiting for her on Sunday will be the No. 7 seed Kasatkina, who triumphed over Beatriz Haddad Maia in a third-set tiebreaker, knocking out the No. 6-seeded Brazilian, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2).