Rybakina shocks Sabalenka to win Australian Open tennis closing | Tennis Information

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open tennis closing, beating world primary Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.

Elena Rybakina produced a thunderous show to dismantle ‍Aryna Sabalenka ‍6-4 4-6 6-4 on Saturday and seize a maiden Australian Open title, turning the tables on the world primary of their Melbourne Park closing rematch ⁠from three years in the past.

Rybakina returned to the location of her heartbreak in 2023 to finish a powerful victory and earn her second main trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials because the participant finest geared up to puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourt aura.

The 26-year-old Kazakh capped ⁠a fortnight of relentless effectivity whereas largely flying underneath the radar, including the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to a resume that ​additionally contains the 2025 WTA Finals crown, the place she downed Sabalenka.

“It’s laborious to seek out phrases now however ‍I need to congratulate Aryna for her superb leads to the final couple of years. I hope we’re going to play many extra finals collectively,” Rybakina stated.

“I need to say thanks to you guys (followers). Thanks a lot to Kazakhstan. I felt the assist from that ‍nook rather a lot. It’s ⁠actually a Glad Slam and I all the time take pleasure in coming right here and enjoying in entrance of you guys.”

Within the first Grand Slam closing since ​2008 that includes gamers but to drop a set, it ‍was high seed Sabalenka who blinked first underneath the Rod Laver Area roof as Rybakina got here out all weapons blazing to interrupt in ‍the opening ⁠sport and wrest management.

The fifth seed’s enormous ball-striking prompted all kinds of issues for twice champion Sabalenka, as she comfortably bought to set level within the tenth sport and completed it off to ship alarm bells ringing in her opponent’s dugout.

Having arrived with 46 ​hardcourt Grand Slam match wins from the ‌final 48, four-time main winner Sabalenka discovered her groove and began the second set extra positively, however Rybakina saved three breakpoints to carry for 1-1.

A ‌wayward forehand from Rybakina handed Sabalenka the possibility to degree at one set apiece, ‌and the Belarusian gleefully took it ⁠to show the ultimate set right into a shootout destined to be determined by whichever participant held their nerves.

Having crushed Rybakina from an identical scenario within the 2023 title conflict, Sabalenka unleashed a flurry of winners to ‌go forward 3-0, however the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for ⁠4-3 earlier than securing victory so as to add to her All England membership triumph.

The knockout blow was an enormous ace, after which the sometimes restrained Rybakina walked ahead, smiled and pumped her fist earlier than celebrating together with her crew.

Sabalenka, denied an Australian Open “three-peat” by American outsider Madison Keys in final yr’s closing, endured heartbreak once more ‌as she retreated to her chair and draped a white towel over her head to hide her anguish.

“I’m actually speechless proper now,” she stated, earlier than turning to her victorious opponent and the followers.

“I need to congratulate you on an unbelievable run and ‍unbelievable tennis. Such an unbelievable achievement. I like being right here, love enjoying in entrance of you all. You guys are unbelievable assist. Let’s hope subsequent yr goes to be a greater yr.”