Elena Rybakina beats No. 1 Sabalenka to win Australian Open
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Melbourne: Elena Rybakina secured her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday, defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a thrilling final, capping a remarkable third-set comeback.
Outwardly composed, the 26-year-old Rybakina, born in Moscow but representing Kazakhstan, sealed the victory with an ace, reflecting a blend of poise and quiet determination. “The heart rate was definitely beating too fast. Even maybe my face didn’t show it, but inside it was a lot of emotions,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to close. I knew that the only advantage I have in this moment is I have to serve it out.”
The win marked a redemption for Rybakina, who had previously lost the Australian Open final to Sabalenka in 2023. She broke early in the first set, dropped the second, and fell behind 3-0 in the third before winning five consecutive games to take control and ultimately the match. “It gives me a kind of relief, also a lot of confidence for sure for the rest of the season,” she said.
The fifth-seeded Rybakina had previously won Wimbledon in 2022. Despite Sabalenka claiming three other major titles in the intervening years, including back-to-back Australian Open victories and two U.S. Open titles, Rybakina had not reached another major final until this tournament.
Her recent career surge followed a win over Sabalenka at the WTA Finals last November. Heading into the Australian Open final, Rybakina had recorded the most match wins on tour since Wimbledon and is now on a 20-1 run, including victories in her last ten matches against Top 10 players. She will rise to No. 3 in the world rankings.
Celebrating her triumph at Rod Laver Arena, the Kazakh flag was unfurled as Rybakina paraded the trophy and posed for photos with her team. She paid tribute to her coach, Stefano Vukov, who had spent time under suspension last year, crediting him for helping improve her game. Vukov received a silver plate from tournament organisers in recognition of his role.
“Of course I would like to thank my team,” Rybakina said. “Without you it wouldn’t have been possible. We had a lot of things going on last year. Thank you to all of you, and hopefully we can keep on going strong this year.” She highlighted the value of Vukov’s constant technical and tactical guidance since 2019, saying it has been instrumental in turning around her performance.
For Sabalenka, it was a second consecutive loss in an Australian Open final after falling to Madison Keys in 2023. Reflecting on the match, she said, “Of course, I have regrets. When you lead 3-Love and then it felt like in a few seconds it was 3-4, and then I was down with a break — it was very fast. Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me. But as I say, today I’m a loser, maybe tomorrow I’m a winner.”
Rybakina’s dominant performance was highlighted by six aces and her ability to fend off six breakpoint chances, despite two breaks late in the second set and early in the third. While Sabalenka’s intensity grew with each set, Rybakina maintained her serene composure, letting her serve and returns dictate the match. The two embraced at the net, with Rybakina celebrating triumphantly, clapping her racket and raising her arm to the crowd.
With PTI inputs