Australian Open, Cocciaretto struggles but is eliminated

Cocciaretto eliminated by Rybakina

Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s opponent in the first round of the Australian Open was almost prohibitive: in fact, the Marche-based tennis player faced off against Kazakhstan’s and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, currently number 20 in the Wta rankings, against the Italian player’s 45th position.

The class of 1999 won in two sets with the scores of 7-5, 6-3. The Italian player, at her third experience at the first Slam of the year, played it to the end, giving nothing to her opponent who, however, proved to be clearly superior. Decisive was Rybakina’s effectiveness on serve, with the Kazakhstani putting up five aces over the course of the match, against Cocciaretto’s two.

The challenge between the finalist at Wimbledon and the Ancona player was completely unprecedented: in fact, the two had never faced each other before this first round of the Australian Open.