Aryna Sabalenka wins Australian Open title after fighting back in style to beat Elena Rybakina in thriller
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Updated 28/01/2023 at 13:06 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka has won the 2023 Australian Open women's singles title after coming from behind to beat Elena Rybakina in three sets. Sabalenka dropped her first set of the year in the final against the No. 22 seed, but grew in confidence in the match and held her nerve to seal her first Grand Slam singles title on her fourth championship point on Rod Laver Arena.
Australian Open highlights: Sabalenka roars back to beat Rybakina and claim maiden Grand Slam title
Aryna Sabalenka has won the 2023 Australian Open after a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Elena Rybakina.
It's been a remarkable year for Sabalenka who has continued her unbeaten run in 2023 by winning her first career Grand Slam in singles against reigning Wimbledon champion Rybakina.
The world No. 5 responded to her error-strewn opening set by producing her finest tennis - striking 51 winners and landing 17 aces in total - to win the showdown between two of the biggest hitters on the WTA Tour.
Victory for Sabalenka means she will rise up to No. 2 in the WTA rankings behind Iga Swiatek, while Rybakina will move up from No. 25 to No. 10.
“First of all, I want to say sorry for my English because I’m still shaking - super nervous!" Sabalenka said in her winners speech.
"Secondly, it’s such an inspiration to receive the trophy from you [directed towards Billie Jean King] thank you so much for everything you have done for our sport.
“I want to [congratulate] Elena for an incredible two weeks. You’re such a great player, and of course we’re going to have many more battles, hopefully in the finals of a Grand Slam. And I want to [congratulate] your team - you guys are amazing, you’ve done such a great job. Congrats guys.
“And to my team - the craziest team on tour I would say! We’ve been through a lot of downs last year, we’ve worked so hard and you guys deserve this trophy. It’s more about you than about me. Thank you so much for everything you’re doing for me, I love you guys, thank you.
“I hope next year I come back stronger and I show you even better tennis and you guys support me [once] more. Thank you.”
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Rybakina congratulates Sabalenka after thrilling Australian Open final
Rybakina started the highly-anticipated clash in style under the lights at Melbourne Park.
The 23-year-old fired three aces in her opening service game and then broke from 40-0 down to move into a 2-1 lead. The break was sealed when Sabalenka lashed a wild forehand into the tramlines.
Sabalenka pulled the break back with a backhand winner down the line to get back on terms at 4-4, but Rybakina restored her break advantage when the Belarusian doubled faulted for the fifth time in the match.
The Kazakhstani had no issues serving out the set with a love hold sealed with an unreturnable serve.
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'World class' - Rybakina takes first set in style in final against Sabalenka
Sabalenka was struggling with her second serve with Rybakina applying heavy pressure when returning them. Sabalenka rescued two break points in her opening service game of the second set and broke to go 3-1 up after an unforced error from Rybakina.
The world No. 5 had to fight hard to hold her remaining service games with both players offloading powerful strikes off their forehand, but she was able to force a third set decider with a crushing ace.
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Sabalenka takes final to a third set as she clinches second with an ace against Rybakina
With a Grand Slam title on the line the third set was understandably tense with both players unleashing vicious forehands and winners from the baseline.
But at 3-3 Sabalenka found the breakthrough. On her third break point of the game she put together a combination of three powerful shots, finishing off with a smash at the net, to move into a pivotal 4-3 lead.
Rybakina tried her very best to stay within touching distance. Sabalenka double faulted on her first championship point and made an unforced error on the second. Sabalenka then saved a break point before squandering another championship point with a forehand that went long.
But at the fourth time of asking Rybakina overcooked a forehand and Sabalenka crumbled to the ground in tears of joy.
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Sabalenka wins her first Grand Slam title in thrilling final against Rybakina
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