After a run of huge wins Talia Gibson was up against the Australian Open champion and world no. 2 Elena Rybakina in the fourth round at the WTA 1000 in Miami.
Gibson dropped serve in the opening game but then looked more steady in the third game when she held serve.
Games went with serve and it was 3-2 with Rybakina serving. Gibson got the first point of the game before Rybakina served an Ace, then forced an error to get back in control of the game. Another hold and the no. 3 seed was out to 4-2.
The Australian was showing that she has the power game to match it with Rybakina.
In the seventh game Rybakina had several break points and she finally converted when Gibson missed a forehand down the line.
Rybakina held serve to love to take the first set 6-2.
Gibson opened the second set in confident fashion to take an early lead, something she was not able to do in the first set.
With Rybakina serving, Gibson forced an error from her opponent for 15-30, but then an Ace and it was 30-30. A great wide serve setup Rybakina to step in near the service line and hit a winner.
Gibson would hold to love for a 2-1 lead. She was forcing errors from Rybakina. Now it needed the Australian to eat into the serve of her opponent and get a break.
Instead it would be Rybakina holding to love and then breaking to love for a 3-2 lead.
Another break come for Rybakina and she was serving for the match at 5-2. It was in this game that Gibson saw a break point, but a good wide serve that saw Gibson return short snuffed that out.
After Gibson hit wide with a shot that would have been a winner, Rybakina then served an Ace to win the match 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour.
Gibson has plenty of top-20 wins recently, and she has now seen one of the very best. It has been a break out two weeks for the young Australian.
Just a short time ago, Gibson was battling in out in the ITF tournaments, now she has seriously upped her level and is showing her potential.
Also read – Magical run continues in Miami for Gibson