Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: World No. 5 Elena Rybakina won the Australian Open title on Saturday as she defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline. The victory was special for Rybakina, and it helped her avenge the painful loss she suffered in the 2023 final at the same tournament. Three years ago, Rybakina had reached the final, and she had won the first set, but she lost the match in three sets.This time, she showed strong control early in the match, and she broke Sabalenka’s serve in the very first game, and she took the first set 6-4. Sabalenka fought back in the second set as she raised her intensity. She forced errors and eventually won the set 4-6 to level the match. The third set brought more drama as Sabalenka raced to a 3-0 lead. She looked confident and in control. Rybakina stayed calm as she trusted her shots. She focused on consistency, and she slowly turned the momentum in her favour. She won five consecutive games and pushed Sabalenka on the defence with her strong service game.Rybakina then reached championship point as she sealed the win with a powerful ace and celebrated with relief and joy. Elena Rybakina’s path to her first Australian Open title:
- 1st rd: bt Kaja Juvan (SLO) 6-4, 6-3
- 2nd rd: bt Varvara Gracheva (FRA) 7-5, 6-2
- 3rd rd: bt Tereza Valentova (CZE) 6-2, 6-3
- 4th rd: bt Elise Mertens (BEL x21) 6-1, 6-3
- QF: bt Iga Swiatek (POL x2) 7-5, 6-1
- SF: bt Jessica Pegula (USA x6) 6-3, 7-6 (9/7)
- F: bt Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
This win marked Rybakina’s second Grand Slam title.She had earlier won Wimbledon in 2022.
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