Australian Open: Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in a gripping Australian Open final on Saturday, winning her first Grand Slam championship in the process.
After losing the first set, Belarusian Sabalenka took control of the match to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 and become the first singles player to win a major while competing under a neutral flag.
Billie Jean King presented Sabalenka with the prize, and she thanked her for the beautiful environment. Of course, my crew is the most eccentric group on the tour. Last year was very up and down for us since we worked so hard. It’s more about you guys than it is about me; you deserve this trophy. I adore you all.
“I hope to return stronger the following year and to demonstrate even greater tennis to you.”
Queen of Melbourne 👑#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/GZzseuGcCQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2023
Rybakina got off to a stronger start, defeating Sabalenka in the third game after she had led 40-0. She held her own comfortably until the eighth game when the Belarusian strung together a string of strong returns and received her reward.
When Rybakina served for the set, Sabalenka, who had previously won all 20 sets she had played this season, produced a terrible service game, double-faulting twice. Rybakina won the set 6-4 by holding to love and breaking Sabalenka’s streak.
At the start of the second set, the Kazakh born in Russia pushed hard for a break, but Sabalenka resisted, saving two break points in the first game.
Her wait is over 😚🏆@SabalenkaA | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/e2W4NoOgSw
— wta (@WTA) January 28, 2023
The match started to go in the Belarusian’s favour gradually as she outhit Rybakina more than two to one in terms of wins and broke to take the lead 3-1.
The Wimbledon winner fought valiantly to maintain the break at one, fending off three break points in the sixth game and two set points at 5-2.
However, Sabalenka maintained her composure to serve out the set, winning it 6-3 with an ace on her second serve to force a decider.
With the advantage now in her favour, Sabalenka raised her game once more in the early going of the decider, coming ever closer to the lines but rarely going over them in what was unquestionably the best performance of her life.
This moment 🙌@SabalenkaA • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/HlaKVY8ajY
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2023
At 2-2 after a protracted game, Rybakina resisted a breakpoint, but two games later, as Sabalenka neared the finish line, her defences broke.
Sabalenka double-failed on her first match chance and then missed a forehand on her second as a baby wailed in the audience, so the decisive moment did not come easily.
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