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Elena Rybakina flips the script of her 2023 Australian Open defeat to Aryna Sabalenka as she captures her second Grand Slam crown
MELBOURNE, Australia – Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous show to beat agency favourite Aryna Sabalenka and win a maiden Australian Open title on Saturday, January 31, turning the tables on the world No. 1 of their Melbourne Park closing rematch from three years in the past.
Rybakina returned to the location of her 2023 defeat to finish a formidable 6‑4, 4‑6, 6-4 win and seize her second main trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials because the participant finest outfitted to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura.
The 26-year-old capped a fortnight of relentless effectivity whereas largely flying underneath the radar, including the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a glowing resume which additionally consists of the WTA Finals crown the Kazakh gained by beautiful Sabalenka final yr.
“It’s exhausting to search out phrases, however I need to congratulate Aryna for her wonderful ends in the final couple of years… I hope we’re going to play many extra finals collectively,” Moscow-born Rybakina mentioned, earlier than addressing her followers.
“I need to say thank you to you guys for the unimaginable environment. Your help stored us going. Thank you to Kazakhstan. I felt the help from that nook quite a bit.”
“It’s actually a Blissful Slam and I at all times get pleasure from coming right here.”
Within the first Grand Slam closing since 2008 that includes gamers but to drop a set, it was prime seed Sabalenka who blinked first underneath the Rod Laver Enviornment roof as Rybakina got here out all weapons blazing to interrupt within the opening sport and take management.
The fifth seed’s booming ball-striking precipitated all kinds of issues for twice champion Sabalenka, and Rybakina comfortably bought to set level within the tenth sport and completed it in model to ship alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.
Sabalenka ranges
Arriving with 46 hardcourt Grand Slam match victories from the final 48, four-time main winner Sabalenka discovered her groove and commenced the second set extra positively, however Rybakina saved three breakpoints to carry for 1-1.
A wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the prospect to stage at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to show the ultimate set right into a shootout destined to be determined by whichever participant held their nerve.
Having overwhelmed Rybakina from the same scenario within the 2023 title conflict, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to go forward 3-0, however the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 earlier than securing victory so as to add to her All England membership triumph.
The knockout blow was a thumping ace, following which the usually restrained Rybakina walked ahead, smiled, and pumped her fist earlier than hugging her opponent after which celebrating together with her crew within the dugout.
Solely a yr in the past at Melbourne Park, Rybakina was defending her coach Stefano Vukov, who had a provisional ban lifted by the WTA in August following an investigation into a possible breach of its code of conduct.
“I need to say thanks to my crew. With out you it wouldn’t be potential,” Rybakina added.
“We had a variety of issues happening and I’m glad we achieved this end result. Hopefully we are able to carry on going robust this yr.”
Sabalenka, denied a Melbourne “three-peat” by American outsider Madison Keys in final yr’s closing, endured the ache of defeat once more and she or he retreated to her chair and draped a towel over her head to hide her anguish.
“I’m actually speechless proper now,” Sabalenka mentioned, earlier than turning to her victorious opponent and the followers.
“I need to congratulate you on an unimaginable run and unimaginable tennis. Such an unimaginable achievement. I really like being right here, love taking part in in entrance of you all. You guys are unimaginable help. Let’s hope subsequent yr goes to be a greater yr.” – Rappler.com
