Elena Rybakina exacted revenge over world number one Aryna Sabalenka to win a thrilling Australian Open final on Saturday, securing her second Grand Slam title. The Kazakh fifth seed triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a tense 2-hour 18-minute battle at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
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The victory avenged Rybakina’s loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final and added to her 2022 Wimbledon title. “Hard to find the words now,” Rybakina said after the match. She also praised her opponent, saying, “I hope we play many more finals together,” and thanked Kazakh fans for their support.
Sabalenka, the US Open champion last year, suffered another major final disappointment. The Belarusian, appearing in her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, expressed her hope for better luck next year.
The match saw Rybakina break Sabalenka’s serve early and maintain composure under pressure, saving crucial break points in both the first and second sets. Sabalenka leveled the match in the second set and surged ahead 3-0 in the decider, but Rybakina staged a remarkable comeback to win four consecutive games, eventually sealing the championship with her sixth ace of the match.
Rybakina, 26, born in Moscow, had previously defeated Sabalenka at the WTA Finals and entered the Australian Open having beaten top seeds Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula. She switched to represent Kazakhstan in 2018, citing financial reasons, and has become one of the most formidable players on the women’s tour.
The two finalists had met 14 times before, with Sabalenka winning eight encounters, making this hard-fought victory a statement of Rybakina’s resilience and rising dominance in women’s tennis.
