After falling behind 3-0 in the decisive set, Elena Rybakina overcame world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open singles trophy in Melbourne.
On paper, the fifth seed appeared to be the underdog and during a portion of the last set at Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka surged ahead and threatened to win the match.
Rybakina steadied herself behind her serve, launched a fresh attack on the second ball and fought her way back into a shootout that was decided by the narrowest of margins.
However, Rybakina struck first breaking in the first game and dominating early with powerful, flat forehands that consistently rushed Sabalenka.
The top seed struck back in the second set, raising her level and capitalizing as Rybakina’s mistakes began to creep in, sending the match to a third set in what Reuters termed the first Grand Slam final since 2008 where both players entered without dropping a set.
The turning point came with that 3-0 lead in the third set. Sabalenka, seeking a Melbourne three peat after finishing last year’s final as runner up, had the crowd in the palm of her hand.
Later Rybakina erased the deficit, broke for 4-3 and shut the door with a final ace allowing herself a small fist pump before embracing her opponent.
“It’s an incredible achievement,” Rybakina said in the aftermath of the victory.
The victory also re wrote their most recent past, a rematch of the 2023 final that Sabalenka won and Rybakina’s second major championship after the Wimbledon Championships in 2022.
Rybakina is poised to move to world No.3, behind Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek after a fortnight that concluded with the strongest statement of her hard court career.
