Elena Rybakina banished her Australian Open demons to beat Aryna Sabalenka and declare her second Grand Slam title.
Elena Rybakina praised Aryna Sabalenka after beating her to win the Australian Open (Picture: Channel 9)
Elena Rybakina confirmed her class after beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 to be topped the Australian Open champion. It’s her second Grand Slam title, and her first in three-and-a-half years. The fifth seed has now gained 20 of her final 21 matches relationship again to October. In that point, she’s additionally picked up titles in Ningbo and the WTA Finals, additionally beating Sabalenka within the closing in Riyadh.
Rybakina banished her demons as she battled again to beat Sabalenka in three units, avoiding a repeat of the 2023 closing. There, the Kazakh led by a set earlier than dropping in three. And she or he regarded heading in the right direction for a repeat earlier than digging deep to win six of the final seven video games.
It’s a second successive Australian Open closing defeat for Sabalenka, who additionally misplaced to Madison Keys in three units final 12 months. Rybakina, in the meantime, has now gained her final 10 matches in opposition to fellow top-10 gamers.
However the 26-year-old made certain to pay tribute to Sabalenka and all of her success in Melbourne Park as she stepped as much as the microphone as the brand new champion. “It is exhausting to search out the phrases however I wish to congratulate Aryna. She’s had wonderful outcomes for a few years and I hope we’ll play many extra finals collectively,” Rybakina mentioned.
“I do know it’s powerful, however I simply hope that we’re going play many extra finals collectively. After all, congrats to your group for all the nice enhancements that you just’ve completed.”
The newly-crowned Australian Open champion additionally thanked the followers, match organisers, her sponsors, and the Kazakh Tennis Federation. Turning her consideration to her teaching camp, she added: “And naturally I want to say thanks to my group, with out you it would not be potential, actually.
“We had a variety of issues occurring and I am actually glad we achieved this outcome. Thanks to all of you, hopefully we are able to carry on going sturdy this 12 months.”
Serving for her second Grand Slam title, Rybakina blocked out the noise. At 30-30, she hit a service winner whereas somebody was cheering for her opponent. And she or he sealed victory with an ace – her sixth of the match and forty seventh of the match.
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