Additional Coverage:
Elena Rybakina Claims Australian Open Title in Thrilling Rematch Against Aryna Sabalenka
Melbourne, Australia – Elena Rybakina emerged victorious at the Australian Open on Saturday, securing her first title in Melbourne with a hard-fought three-set triumph over Aryna Sabalenka. The win marked a sweet revenge for Rybakina, who fell to Sabalenka in last year’s final.
Rybakina, representing Kazakhstan, sealed her 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory at Rod Laver Arena with a blistering 114-mph ace on championship point. The 2-hour, 18-minute thriller saw Rybakina deliver six aces and 28 winners, converting three of six break point opportunities. This significant win is set to propel her from No. 5 to No. 3 in the WTA singles rankings.
“We had a lot of things going on and I’m really glad we achieved this result,” Rybakina commented on the ESPN broadcast. “Hopefully we can keep on going strong this year.”
Both tennis stars had an unblemished record coming into the final, not dropping a single set through their first six matches of the season’s inaugural Grand Slam. However, that streak was broken early in the final, with Rybakina securing a break against the top-ranked Belarusian in the first set.
Rybakina capitalized on the break to establish a 2-0 lead and maintained her serve to clinch the first set. The second set saw both players hold serve through the first nine games until Sabalenka broke Rybakina to level the match.
The decisive third set began with Sabalenka showing fierce determination, breaking Rybakina to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Yet, Rybakina remained composed, strategically stretching the court with wide shots that kept Sabalenka on the defensive. This tactic allowed Rybakina to mount an impressive comeback, winning the next five games, including two crucial breaks, to take a 5-3 lead.
After Sabalenka held in the ninth game, Rybakina served for the championship, concluding the final game with her unreturnable ace that landed just out of Sabalenka’s reach.
A gracious Sabalenka offered her congratulations, stating, “I’m really speechless right now. I want to congratulate you on an incredible run and incredible tennis. Congrats to you and your team on such an incredible achievement.”
Sabalenka finished the match with five aces and 35 winners but was only able to convert two of eight break point chances. For her runner-up performance, she earned $1.45 million, while Rybakina took home a $4.15 million first-place prize for her second Grand Slam title.
Looking ahead, the men’s singles final will feature No. 4 Novak Djokovic of Serbia facing off against No.
1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. EST in Melbourne, also airing on ESPN.