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Elena Rybakina moves into Rome semifinals after Iga Swiatek retires 

The world No. 1 lunged for a forehand late in the second set of their Rome encounter, and returned with tape on her right thigh after a medical time out.

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published_tag May 17, 2023

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WATCH: Elena Rybakina defeats Iga Świątek via retirement in the 2023 Italian Open quarterfinal

Elena Rybakina moved on at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia after an injury caused world No. 1 Iga Swiatek to retire from their quarterfinal encounter on Wednesday, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 2-2 (ret).

Late in the second set tiebreak, Swiatek lunged for a forehand and then pulled up gesturing to her right leg. After Rybakina closed out the set, the Pole was shown in tears as she was evaluated by a physio before heading into the locker room for an off-court medical time out.

Upon resumption, the pair remained deadlocked before Swiatek—who returned to the court with taping on her upper thigh—eventually called time on the match at 2-2, sending Rybakina through to the semifinals.

Before the match came to an abrupt end, Swiatek and Rybakina were bringing the firepower to their third meeting of the season and fourth encounter overall. Swiatek was eager to get her revenge after falling to Rybakina at the Australian Open and Indian Wells—two of Swiatek’s five total losses this season—and she was off to a flying start with an early double break in the first set.

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Swiatek used her court coverage and shotmaking to keep Rybakina on the move, negating her opponent’s booming strokes. The Kazakh, whose best results have come on faster surfaces, struggled to hit through Swiatek in the muggy conditions in the opening set.

The reigning Wimbledon champion found her footing in the second to recover from a 2-4 deficit and take it to a tiebreak. Rybakina grabbed an early mini-break and maintained her lead, before Swiatek paused at 3/6 and touched her right leg. After receiving treatment in the locker room, Swiatek played on for four more games in the third set, before eventually gesturing to her team and retiring from the match.

Swiatek, the two-time defending champion, was going for her 15th consecutive victory in Rome.

Rybakina, the No. 7 seed, will face No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko for a spot in the Rome final.