Elena Rybakina had plenty of reasons to lose faith in her latest pursuit of a second grand slam title. She had played well for so much of the Australian Open final but, just as was the case in their final here three years ago, as Aryna Sabalenka began to impose herself in the match, Rybakina lost all control. Trailing 0-3 and 30-30 on her serve in the final set, the Kazakhstani’s chances were fading quickly.
Although Rybakina is one of the least expressive tennis players to ever reach these stages, her reserved persona belies the grit at the heart of her success. The fifth seed brilliantly drew on her inner fire to produce the one of the great recoveries of her career, finding a way through from a break down in the final set to clinch her first Australian Open title with a brilliant 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over the world No 1.
This victory confirms a development that has been clear for some time: Rybakina is the in-form player in women’s tennis. The 26-year-old’s long-awaited second slam title comes after she ended last season by winning the WTA Finals with a similarly commanding victory over Sabalenka in the final. The Kazakhstani was floundering outside the top 10 as recently as July, but her victory solidified her position among the elite by returning to her career high ranking of No 3.
When Rybakina captured her first grand slam title at Wimbledon in 2022, the prospect of her going nearly four years without winning a second major seemed remote considering her shotmaking abilities, composure and youth. However, while Rybakina has long commanded the respect of her rivals, pundits and fans, she frequently failed to show up in the biggest tournaments.
While she would offer intermittent reminders of her talent, it has taken a long time for Rybakina to play with this clarity in the second week of a grand slam. She has made it clear that from now on she will regularly battle Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff for the biggest titles in the sport
Her difficulties, of course, have extended off the court in recent years. This time last year, Rybakina was competing on the tour without her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov, after he was suspended by the Women’s Tennis Association because of his alleged verbal abuse of Rybakina. However, the player publicly objected to the suspension and she continued to train with him away from tournaments even though he was banned from attaining accreditation on the tour.
Vukov’s suspension was lifted on appeal last August and, whether down to his direct influence or the resumption of order in her team, his return to the fold has coincided with her uptick in form. Rybakina has won the most matches on the tour this year.
Rybakina burst into the match desperate to make a statement. In Sabalenka’s opening service game, she obliterated two return winners of 110mph-plus first serves from Sabalenka, immediately putting the No 1 under suffocating pressure. Throughout her six straight-set wins en route to the final, Sabalenka was by far the biggest ball striker on the court, but Rybakina is one of the few players who has repeatedly shown that she can overpower the No 1.
For the first time all tournament, Sabalenka played second fiddle in the baseline rallies as Rybakina dictated much of the first 20 minutes. With the opening break secured, Rybakina rolled through her service games and in her one tight service game in set. When the Belarusian finally put her under pressure, generating two break points at 3-4, Rybakina responded with an ace and two service winners, her monstrous serve separating the pair as she snatched the set.
Although Sabalenka was initially rattled, the No 1 put her head down. She served well after her opening game, taking care of her own service games while putting pressure on Rybakina’s serve. After some brilliant serving from Rybakina saved the first five break points against her, the momentum shifted at 5-4 to Sabalenka. The world No 1 made her move, punishing a second serve and snatching the first strike from Rybakina as she broke to love and force a final set.
For some time, it seemed as if this shift would be decisive. She used the momentum well, rolling to a 3-0 third set lead against an increasingly meek and passive Rybakina. The match had shifted. Yet the world No 5 dug deep, kept herself in the set with her serve and put Sabalenka under pressure.
From 0-3 down, Rybakina played the brand of big-time tennis that she has promised for four years. She took massive swings off both wings, obliterating the ball and wrestling control of the baseline from the best player in the world. Her serve was sublime, particularly in the decisive moments. Predictably, she ended her four-year pursuit of a second grand slam title by coolly firing down a thunderous ace.
