Tennis fans were treated to a thrilling Australian Open final last week that saw Elena Rybakina win her second Grand Slam after defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka — finally getting her revenge after the 2023 final.
The match started fairly evenly, with Rybakina winning the first set 6-4, although Sabalenka will be frustrated that she failed to break the Kazakhstani, who only made 48 per cent of her first serves. The top seed did manage to turn it around in the second set, however, breaking Rybakina to win 6-4. Going into the final set, it looked like the momentum lay with Sabalenka, and after an early break to take a 3-0 lead, Sabalenka had one hand on the trophy. But in what is becoming an unfortunate habit for the Belarusian, she failed to close out the match. Rybakina pulled off an incredible comeback to win five games in a row, eventually winning the final set with the familiar 6-4.
The win sees Rybakina climb up to third in the WTA rankings, behind Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka, who retains her number one spot despite the defeat. It marks Rybakina’s first Grand Slam win since Wimbledon in 2022, and her first final since her loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open. She has arguably played the best tennis of her career over the last couple of weeks, and it would not be a surprise if more silverware awaits her this year. If she can find the consistency that has eluded her career so far, she will be very difficult to stop.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, has been incredibly consistent in Grand Slams since her first win in 2023, but this latest defeat has added fuel to the debate surrounding her ability to turn consistent performances into silverware. She has now lost three of her last four finals, with many claiming she lacks the composure in big moments to become a serial winner. Rybakina remained ice cold and emotionless throughout the final, barely cracking a smile even when she hit the ace that secured the win. Sabalenka was the opposite, screaming at every big shot and frequently shouting out in frustration after losing points. Although she has been the star of women’s tennis over the past few years, Sabalenka will perhaps need to work on the mental aspect of the game if she wants to secure the trophies that a player of her quality deserves.
“Elena Rybakina (2023 US Open) 38 (cropped)” by Hameltion is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.