Sports
Elena Rybakina wins Italian Open final as Anhelina Kalinina retires injured
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina clinched her fourth WTA title with victory in the Italian Open as Anhelina Kalinina retired with a leg injury.
Wimbledon champion Rybakina was leading 6-4 1-0 when her Ukrainian opponent, who had strapping on her left leg, retired in tears after 65 minutes. It was Rybakina’s third walkover victory of the tournament in Rome. The win gives the 23-year-old a top-four seeding at the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on 28 May.
Rybakina has made a superb start to the year, runner-up at the Australian Open and winning the Indian Wells title. She is the sixth woman since 2009 to win a Grand Slam or Masters title on every surface after Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza and Ashleigh Barty.
(BBC Sports)