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Aryna Sabalenka has broken through for the slam crown the tennis world has been waiting for, coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, 4-6 6-3 6-4.
The powerful Belarusian has been spoken about as a slam-worthy talent for many years, but after well-known battles with the serving yips and multiple near-misses, the 24-year-old has finally reached the sport’s pinnacle.
And she did it playing arguably the match of her life, firing down 51 winners – before fittingly, given her issues in 2022, successfully serving for the championship.
But the nightcap was even bigger for local fans, with Aussie wildcards Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata completing their fairytale run to the men’s doubles title.
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Sabalenka seals incredible first slam! | 01:16
Sabalenka will become the world No.2 when the next WTA rankings are released, while Rybakina – who was seeded 22nd at this event, but would’ve been in the top 10 if ranking points were awarded for Wimbledon – will become the world No.10.
Remarkably it was Sabalenka’s seventh consecutive win at a slam after losing the first set; though this one was bigger than the rest, a spectacular final which saw the pair combining incredible power and graceful touch.
The primary difference was in mindset. In a battle of fire and ice, it was the stone-cold, Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina who took control early on – perhaps thanks to her slam final experience.
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While the emotional Sabalenka – unfortunately famed for her serving yips last year – laughed when she double-faulted on the opening point of the match, she wasn’t laughing when losing five straight points to be broken from 40-0 up in the third game.
The pair sent down seven aces in the match’s first 13 points but the set quickly became about who was able to hold serve.
Sabalenka again had to defend hers from 15-30 trailing 2-4, but won three consecutive points to remain in the set – and then took advantage of several Rybakina errors for a 0-40 lead, converting the break when her opponent misguidedly came to the net.
While Sabalenka’s fifth double fault of the set put her down 4-5 and allowed Rybakina to serve for it (which she did successfully to love), it wasn’t exactly a relapse of her prior issues. Rather it was Rybakina’s powerful return game, forcing the Belarusian to employ risky kick serves even on her seconds.
Sabalenka responded well to losing a set for the first time in 11 matches, coming back from a dangerous position in the opening game of the second set to hold.
The pair traded deuces until Sabalenka got a look at Rybakina’s second serve; an error gave her the crucial break and a 3-1 lead. A near-repeat in the ensuing game – deuce, look at the second serve on break point – was avoided when Sabalenka smashed a backhand winner, and she recovered to consolidate for 4-1, roaring after sealing the game with an ace.
While Rybakina managed to save three break points in the ensuing game, the game was on Sabalenka’s racquet – at the point at which she held for 5-2, she had fired down 30 winners to Rybakina’s 13.
A 31st gave her two set points – but one was saved with a 194 km/h ace, the other with a Rybakina winner.
Then it was back to the Sabalenka serve to decide the set, with a wicked 167km/h second serve at one point, followed by an ace for set point, and then a combination of the two – a 167km/h second serve ace – to take the set 6-3.
Remarkably it was the first time in six days an Australian Open singles match had even gone to a final set – and the fourth time in four meetings between the finalists. Sabalenka was 3-0 previously.
Rybakina’s serve had somewhat abandoned her as the third set got going, first serves finding their way in just 56 per cent of the time to Sabalenka’s 68.
It nearly went totally when she double-faulted for the first time in the match up 30-0 at 2-2, forced to face a break point, though she recovered and twice fired down service winners hitting the 190s on the speed gun.
Sabalenka simply continued to threaten, with her ground strokes simply spectacular and taking Rybakina to at least 30-30 for five times in six return games.
At 3-3, she had three shots at the potentially title-deciding break. An unreturnable first serve saved the first, but Sabalenka immediately earned another; she sent her return long to miss it. But then, nine break points since converting one, her power allowed her to control the point and break for a 4-3 lead.
Trying to consolidate, Sabalenka got a bit antsy going for a winner at 40-15, Rybakina then able to force a deuce – but the Belarusian held her nerve and an ace gave her 5-3.
Rybakina held to place the title on Sabalenka’s racquet. While she double-faulted on her first championship point, erred on a second and needed to save a break-back point, it eventually swung truly to hand her the crown.
“This I think is setting a new bar for women’s tennis,” Alicia Molik said on Channel Nine.
“The rest of the field are going to have to catch up to this level that these women have set tonight.”
Laura Robson, meanwhile, called it an “unbelievable victory” in commentary for Eurosport.
“Sitting here courtside, I just couldn’t wrap my head around how hard they were hitting it,” she said.
“Both of them were playing ridiculous tennis. Every doubt that I’ve had about Sabalenka – especially on the serve – she proved me wrong. It was insane.”
AUSSIES WIN DOUBLES TITLE
A year after a wildcard Aussie team stormed their way to the men’s doubles crown at the Australian Open, an even more unlikely pair has repeated the feat.
Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler are slam champions after taking down Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 6-4 7-6(4) in the early hours of Sunday morning at Melbourne Park.
Following Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis’ triumph last year, this marks the first time in four decades all-Australian teams have won the title in back-to-back years.
But given Kyrgios’ track record as a slam contender, that was more explainable than the sudden run of Hijikata (world No.169) and Kubler (world No.84).
The Aussies made an early statement, breaking to love for a 2-1 lead. They easily served it out from there to claim the opening set 6-4.
Local lads win Aus Open doubles! | 01:03
Things got tight in the second set, with the Aussies threatening a break at 4-4 – leading 15-30 after a brilliant point from Hijikata – but unable to pinch it.
Hijikata’s strong serving got the set to 5-5.
“That’s a super hold from Rinky there – that was pressure time,” Aussie doubles great Todd Woodbridge said on Nine.
The second set soon reached a tiebreak and the Aussies earned the quick mini-break off Nys’ serve. They were able to consolidate for 4-2 at the change of ends, but handed it back a point later after a strong return.
Yet an even better Kubler return put them at 5-4, giving Hijikata the chance to serve for the title. A Zielinski error later and it was two championship points; they only needed one, and it was absolutely absurd.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 13 – ORDER OF PLAY (All times AEDT)
Rod Laver Arena
Matches start from 7:30pm
Women’s Final: [5] Aryna Sabalenka [22] def Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Men’s Doubles Final: Rinky Hijikata (AUS) / Jason Kubler (AUS) def Hugo Nys (MON) / Jan Zielinski (POL) 6-4 7-6(4)
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