DailyExpertNews
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Belarusian-born Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets to win a thrilling Australian Open women’s final on Saturday. She became the first player to compete under a neutral flag and secure a grand slam.
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tournament organizer Tennis Australia demanded that Russian and Belarusian players compete neutrally.
Playing out in the opening set, Sabalenka came from behind to beat the reigning Wimbledon champion 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a remarkable turnaround in Melbourne.
Breaking Rybakina’s serve in the seventh game of a tense third set proved to be the crucial breakthrough for the fifth seed, whose venomous serve and intense groundstrokes ultimately paved the way for her success.
A nervous start from Sabalenka – she committed five double faults and won only four points on the second serve in the first set – made it look like it would be a routine second grand slam for Rybakina as she secured the first set in 34 minutes .
But Sabalenka found both accuracy and power in the second and third sets, with Rybakina faltering in crucial stages. The Russian-born Kazakh, who is also a big hitter, saw away three championship points, but sent a forehand long on the fourth and Sabalenka fell to the ground, moved to tears as she won her first major.
She celebrated by climbing to the players’ box where her coach, Anton Dubrov, could be seen sobbing in a towel.
“I’m still shaking and super nervous,” she told spectators in her speech on the pitch ahead of the presentation.
In accepting the trophy from Billie Jean King, Sabalenka thanked the American great for her pioneering work for the women’s game, and then thanked her team, which she described as the “craziest on tour.”
“We had a lot of setbacks last year,” she said. “We worked so hard, you deserve this trophy, it’s more about you than me. Thank you very much for everything you do for me. I love you.”
More to follow.
