Elena Rybakina stifled her emotions to take revenge over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and win the Australian Open on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title. The big-serving Kazakh fifth seed fought back from 0-3 in the deciding set to triumph 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena here in 2hrs 18mins. It was payback after the Belarusian Sabalenka won the 2023 final between two of the hardest hitters in women’s tennis.
Rybakina, 26, who was born in Moscow, adds the Melbourne crown to her Wimbledon win in 2022. Rybakina has a reputation for being unflappable, but she said she was nervous about losing the second set, even though she did not show it, and again as she served for the match. She sealed the championship with her sixth ace of the final. “Well, the heart definitely was beating too fast, even if maybe my face did not show it,” she told local broadcasters. “Inside was a lot of emotions.”
A disappointed Aryna Sabalenka drops her racquet during her defeat to Elena Rybakina
It was more disappointment in a major final for Sabalenka, who won the US Open last year for the second time, but lost the French Open and Melbourne title deciders. She was into her fourth Australian Open final in a row and had been imperious until now. The 27-year-old top seed had tears in her eyes at the end and draped a towel over her head to hide her feelings. “Let’s hope maybe next year will be a better year for me,” Sabalenka said ruefully. “She played an incredible match and I tried my very best. I was fighting until the very last point,” she added.
Mertens-Zhang, Harrison-Skupski win doubles titles
Belgium’s Elise Mertens marked her return to the No. 1 ranking in women’s doubles by combining with China’s Zhang Shuai to win the Australian Open title on Saturday at Melbourne Park. They beat Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic 7-6 (4), 6-4. Meanwhile, American Christian Harrison and Britain’s Neal Skupski won the men’s doubles trophy. Harrison served an ace on match point for a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over the Australian pair of Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.
Numbers game
Sabalenka Rybakina
5 Aces 6
2 Double faults 3
62 1st serves in (%) 55
75 1st serve pts won (%) 76
48 2nd serve pts won (%) 48
25 Break pts won (%) 50
34 Receiving pts won (%) 33
35 Winners 28
26 Unforced errors 25
92 Total points won 92
One
Elena Rybakina becomes the first-ever player from Kazakhstan to win the Australian Open singles title
Five
Consecutive number of games won by Elena Rybakina in the final set after trailing 0–3
Six
Rybakina becomes the sixth woman in the Open Era to win her first two Grand Slam titles on different surfaces (grass at Wimbledon and hard court in Melbourne)
One
Rybakina becomes the first woman in seven years (since Naomi Osaka in 2019) to defeat three top-10 players en route to her Oz Open title (No. 1 Sabalenka, No. 2 Swiatek, and No. 6 Pegula)
Two
Consecutive Australian Open finals lost by Aryna Sabalenka
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