Elena Rybakina topples world No.1 Aryna Sablenka to win her first Melbourne Park crown on Rod Laver Arena
Elena Rybakina challenged women’s tennis’ elite, winning her second major title and triumphing at the Australian Open for the first time; She knocked out world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and reversed the result from three years ago on Rod Laver Arena.
Rybakina, 26, has claimed grand slam victories on hard and grass and cemented her claim as one of the sport’s best players with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 challenge victory in Saturday night’s final.
Elena Rybakina with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.Credit: EddieJim
The Kazakhstan star didn’t drop a set at Melbourne Park until he was forced to contest a riveting contest that went the distance against the game’s best player. Rybakina will be delighted with her second grand slam success after falling short against Sabalenka three years ago.
On this occasion, Rybakina won the first set 6-4 against the Belarusian. But this time this strong opening laid the foundation for another great victory.
Saturday night’s final featured a titanic battle between two of the fittest players in women’s tennis. The fact that it consisted of three sets and the decision was made after 2 hours and 18 minutes made the competition worthy of this status.
Not only did Rybakina complete an unforgettable two weeks by defeating three top 10 opponents at the business end of the Open – Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, American Jessica Pegula and Sabalenka – but she also carried over into the Australian summer the hot form from last November’s WTA Finals victory in Riyadh, where she beat Sabalenka in straight sets and did not miss a beat.
Opponents have come and gone at Melbourne Park and even their 7-5, 6-1 quarter-final defeat to Swiatek failed to create any hype or real argument that the hard-hitting Kazakhstan international is the player to beat this January.
