Rybakina’s redemption: Star vanquishes 2023 demons, topples Sabalenka in a classic AO final

Elena Rybakina threw down the gauntlet down to the elite of women’s tennis, winning her second major and claiming the Australian Open for the first time – toppling world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and reversing the result of three years prior on Rod Laver Arena.

Rybakina, 26, now has grand slam triumphs on hardcourt and grass and has staked her claim as one of the best players in the sport with a fighting victory in Saturday night’s final, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Elena Rybakina with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.Credit: Eddie Jim

The Kazakhstani star didn’t drop a set at Melbourne Park until she was forced to fight back in a gripping contest that went the distance against the game’s best player. Rybakina will be overjoyed with a second grand slam success achieved after she fell short against Sabalenka three years ago.

On that occasion, Rybakina also won the first set 6-4 against the Belarusian. This time, however, that strong opening acted as the foundations for another major triumph.

Saturday night’s final was a titanic battle between the two most in-form players in women’s tennis. That it went to three sets and was decided after two hours and 18 minutes made the contest worthy of the occasion.

Not only did Rybakina defeat three top 10 opponents – Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, American Jessica Pegula, and Sabalenka – at the business end of the Open to complete a memorable fortnight, she carried red-hot form from last November’s WTA Finals triumph in Riyadh, when she beat Sabalenka in straight sets, into the Australian summer and barely missed a beat.

Opponents came and went at Melbourne Park and not even her 7-5, 6-1 destruction of Swiatek in the quarter-finals appeared to create any hype or genuine discussion that the hard-hitting Kazakhstani was the player to beat this January.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion has won 20 of her past 21 WTA level matches. Rybakina’s only blemish came in the Brisbane International quarter-finals when she crashed out to dangerous Czech player Karolina Muchova in three sets.

Rybakina’s victory is an eye-catching challenge to the status quo at the top of women’s tennis, given she draws level with world No.3 Coco Gauff with two major victories to her name. After winning the WTA Finals last November, Rybakina is poised to mount a further challenge on the supremacy at the top created by Sabalenka and Swiatek.

This was a well-earned title. Rybakina has become the first player since Naomi Osaka seven years ago to claim the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup by outlasting three top 10 players on the way.

The opening game was the all-important stanza of the opening set. Rybakina started primed for the occasion but the Sabalenka, with the benefit of serving first, was caught out slightly napping. Rybakina powered an excellent return winner to make it 30-15 and apply the early pressure.

At 0-2 in the first set after Rybakina consolidated her early break with a clinical service game, it was clear that Sabalenka was feeling the pressure generated by the reality of reaching a fourth straight Australian Open and Saturday night’s opportunity coming 12 months after she slipped up against American Madison Keys.

Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka fought out a classic women’s final.Credit: Penny Stephens

Two years in a row Sabalenka has come to Melbourne carrying high expectations and, significantly, the top seeding, and twice the Belarusian has fallen at the final hurdle and on the biggest stage.

Once Rybakina had secured the early break, she had to focus on playing calm and composed tennis and force her opponent to try and find an opportunity.

Rybakina has also become sixth player in the Open era to win her first two women’s singles major titles on hard and grasscourt – joining an elite group that includes Amelie Mauresmo, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis and Venus Williams.

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